Dietary Caffeine and Young Children: Implications for Health - Caffeine: Chemistry, Analysis, Function and Effects - page 353

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CHAPTER 19
Dietary Caffeine and Young
Children: Implications for Health

WILLIAM J. WARZAK* 1 , SHELBY EVANS 1 ,
LUIS F. MORALES KNIGHT 1 , LAURA NEEDELMAN 1
AND REBECCA K. DOGAN 1

1 Department of Psychology, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Department of
Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985450 Nebraska Medical
Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5450, USA
*E-mail: [e-mail]

19.1 The Prevalence of Caffeine
Caffeine is widely regarded as the most commonly used psychoactive substance
in the world (Fredholm et al 1999; James 2011; Miller 2005). It is a naturally
occurring alkaloid that is commonly extracted for human consumption from a
number of plant species, including coffee, tea, and cacao (Thomson and
Schiess 2010). It is artificially added to a wide range of food and medicinal
products because of its CNS arousal, motor-activating and reinforcing effects
(Bramstedt 2007; Ferr´ et al 2011; Nawrot et al 2003; Temple 2009).
The caffeine content of beverages and foods varies considerably, even across
products within the same category. For example, a typical 8 oz cup of coffee
contains between 35 and 250 mg of caffeine depending on the brand, the beans,
the roast, the grind and the method of preparation. Tea varies less, with 8 oz
containing between 15 and 35 mg of caffeine. Soft drinks, a preferred item for
children, contain between 36 and 54 mg of caffeine per 12 oz serving. Foods