Caffeinated Kids - How Much is Too Much?

We've all seen the news articles on the harmful effects of high doses of caffeine in teenagers and college students.  Energy drinks are marketed for teenagers, and I see many teenagers in my practice who drink them. 
A recent study looking at the caffeine content of popular beverages (and foods) yielded some startling results.  The results indicate that children, who are especially vulnerable due to their lower weight and body mass, can easily consume enough caffeine to leave them jittery and anxious, or cause physical symptoms like abdominal pain and headaches.
The common culprits - dark-colored sodas and energy drinks, as well as Mountain Dew (well known on college campuses everywhere) and Sunkist orange soda.  Listed with mg of Caffeine per 8 oz. serving:
Red Fusion - 38 mg
Mountain Dew - 37
Pepsi - 27
Coca-Cola classic - 24
Sunkist orange soda - 23
Vanilla Coke - 21
Barq's Root Beer - 15
Some sodas that are caffeine free include: Minute Maid Orange, Slice, Sprite, 7-Up, Mug Root Beer.


In comparison, coffee drinks and other beverages:
Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino - 83 mg
AMP Energy drink - 77
Red Bull Energy drink - 70
Elements Atomic Jacked Apple Juice - 33
Sobe Energy Citrus - 25
Glaceau Vitaminwater Energy Tropical - 21
Snapple Lemon Ice Tea - 10


Most energy drinks (and some fortified waters) also include guarana, a caffeine-containing herb, and ginsing, which may intensify the effects of caffeine.


Some other surprising sources of caffeine:
Dannon Natural Flavors Low Fat Coffee yogurt - 36 mg
Starbucks Coffee Java chip ice cream, 1/2 cup - 28 mg
Haagen-Dazs Coffee ice cream, 1/2 cup - 24


Caffeine seems to have the same effects on kids and teens as it does on adults.  "At low doses, it produces an increase in wakefulness, alertness, feelings of energy and sociability", according to Roland Griffiths, a professor at Johns Hopkins University.  "As you increase the dose, you get into anxiety, insomnia, and tension.  Raise it further and you get things like nausea and upset stomach."
Some experts suggest "upper limits" for kids - no more than 45 mg per day for 4-6 year olds, 62.5 mg per day for 7-9 year olds, and 85 mg per day for 10-12 year olds.  However, there are a lack of studies on "safe" caffeine intake for any children, and no warning labels exist on many common caffeinated beverages.
It is far safer to avoid caffeine in children altogether, especially if you child seems sensitive to caffeine side effects.  In addition, as I have covered in my blog previously, there are serious concerns about soda in general (secondary to artificial coloring, sugar and non-sugar sweeteners) - enough concern, I think, to avoid giving your children soda in general.