High Caffeine Intake Seen among U.S. Children and Teens, Study

Nearly 73 percent of U.S. children and young adults consume caffeine from various sources in a given day, according to a recent study.

The study (Published in Journal Pediatrics) by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, analyzed data of the National Health survey from 1999 and 2010 involving 22,000 participants aged between 2 and 22. The researchers assessed the caffeine intake trends of the participants by asking them what they ate or drank the previous day.

It was found that during 2010, 10 percent of the caffeine intake came from energy drinks consumed by subjects aged between 19 and 22, 2 percent for 7 to 18 year olds and 3 percent for 12 to 16 year olds. The caffeine intake among the younger participants was mostly minimal or none.

The study reported that the caffeine in children's diets was not from soda, but from energy drinks and coffee drinks.  Intake from tea remains the second highest source of caffeine.

Amy Branum, study author and health statistician at CDC's National Center for Health Statistics said, the average intake of caffeine according to the study was about 60 to 70 milligrams- an amount equal to caffeine content in 6 ounce- cup of coffee or two sodas.

 "Use of energy drinks increased rapidly during the study, even if they didn't amount to a big portion of kids' caffeine intake, and that rise is a trend researchers are going to keep their eyes on." said Barnum.

The American Academy of Pediatrics disapproves caffeine intake among children and teens and warns of its side effects that include increased heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety.

 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in a report says that caffeine is added to a range of new products like jelly beans, marshmallows, sunflower seeds and other snacks for its stimulant effects. Caffeinated energy drinks are aggressively marketed to children and adolescents

Dr Stephen Daniels, head of Pediatrics at University of Colorado, said that caffeine has no nutritional value and there is not enough data to determine safe levels for children.

Daniels added, "Evidence that even very young children may regularly consume caffeine products raises concerns about possible long-term health effects, so parents should try to limit their kids' intake." reports NBCNEWS.com.