Researching The Influence of Caffeine on Kids

Caffeine is one of the most consumed psychoactive substance in the world. The amount consumed depends with the processing and the type of product that is consumed. Plants usually use caffeine as a pesticide due to its toxic. The different quantities of caffeine consumed tend to have a different levels of impact on an individual wellbeing with a small quantities considered to have therapeutic benefits to individuals. Caffeine is an alkaloid hence it contains nitrogen atoms. Caffeine is metabolized by the liver and takes different time to metabolize based on the quantities consumed with the average time being between 5 and 6 hours. Different researches have been conducted to determine the effects of caffeine in human beings although little is known about the influence of caffeine in children considering the fact that they form a major of caffeine product consumers across the globe (Rosenfeld et.al., 2014).

United States has no guidelines on caffeine intake, which means that there are no restrictions to caffeine consumption leaving individuals to consume as much as they want despite the addictive property that caffeine has. High intake of caffeine among children has been found to have detrimental impact to their overall wellbeing. Some of the key effects of caffeine intake among children include dehydration, loss of appetite, increased heart rate, anxiety and difficulty in sleeping (David, 2015). These effects are not only seen among children but also in adults although children tend to be more sensitive due to their each physiological processes. These effects tend to have an influence on the functioning of the heart and thus places an individual at a high risk of developing heart related conditions. Different researchers have focused on determining the exact impact of caffeine in children with special focus on the negative side effects, which tend to occur over a prolonged period of consumption. Most of the energy drinks that are consumed currently have differing levels of caffeine, which means that they have varying level of impact on individual health condition.

Is caffeine intake children more detrimental than beneficial to children health and general wellbeing?

Caffeine intake among children and adolescents has significantly increased by approximately 70% in the past 30 years. The increased intake of caffeine can be attributed to easily available products that contain caffeine. The high level of caffeine intake among children and adolescents is based on soda and tea consumption. Energy drinks have increased in the market (Beauchamp et.al., 2017). The lack of regulation within the energy drink industry has made it very difficult to control the amount of caffeine that is consumed by individuals within a given day. Psychological and physiological implications of caffeine use among children has not been greatly investigated which means that there is scanty scientific research on the exact effects of caffeine use among children. There is an existing understanding on the fact that children are influenced differently when compared to adults when they consume caffeine.

Physicians and clinicians have developed an interest in caffeine intake among children and adolescents with a key focus on creating an understanding on the specific impact that caffeine has on this population. The lack of caffeine intake in energy drinks description informed the decision to conduct the study.

The study sought to create an understanding on the trends of caffeine consumption among the united states children and adolescents.

The study incorporated data from the years1999 to 2010 in order to understand the trend of caffeine consumption among children and adolescents.

The study focused on documented data about caffeine intake within the period 1999 – 2010 using NHANES data. The data included products such as soda, tea and energy drinks

The mean intake of caffeine had not increased substantially over the period of study. Coffee and energy drinks represent a high proportion of caffeine intake as soda over the period has declined. The increasing consumption of energy drinks within the united states among children and adolescent is a source of public health concern

The current lifestyle of children and adolescent tends to have a greater influence on their overall wellbeing. The significant focus on stimulant products has been highly engaged among children and adolsencets.

The study sought to verify whether night time feeding practices influence parasomnia among children

7 private and 4 public elementary schools were involved.

A 595-sleep disturbance scale for children were distributed to parents of children aged between 7 and 8 years. 226 questionnaires were completed.

The study was able to determine that the intake of stimulant foods id associated with development of parasomnia among children.

Breakfast and energy drink consumption in secondary school children: breakfast omission, in isolation or in combination with frequent energy drink use, is associated with stress, anxiety, and depression cross-sectionally, but not at 6-month follow-up. Frontiers in psychology, 7.

The frequent use of caffeinated energy drinks has been determined by previous researches to have undesirable effects particularly in children and adolescents

The study sought to determine the effects of consuming energy drinks as well as missing breakfast on stress levels, anxiety and depression among secondary school children

Secondary school children from the southwest of England were studied. A sample size of 3071 were integrated into the study.

The study incorporated a longitudinal study where the sample size was engaged. Questionnaires were administered at two point to determine the existing difference.

Cross sectional analysis that was conducted showed that omission of breakfast was consistently associated with negative outcomes while consumption of energy drinks had detrimental effect on the participants health.

Caffeine consumption and general health in secondary school children: A cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Frontiers in nutrition, 3.

The intake of caffeine is usually associated with positive outcomes without focus on the negative outcomes when the intake is too high. Children and adolescents have recorded high level of intake, which creates a significant focus on the outcomes of high intake in such populations.

The objective of the study was to explore whether caffeine intake in secondary school children was linked to responses to a single item measure of health in general.

The study incorporated a cross sectional analysis where secondary school children were engaged.

Caffeine and general health were significantly linked. Caffeine intake among children and adolescent has a huge impact on their general health.

Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials.

Caffeine is readily available occurring in coffee and other plants. Caffeine is used differently with reports indicating that it can be used to mitigate sleep, enhance performance and treat apnea in premature infants.

The study sought to investigate from epidemiological studies randomized control trials on whether coffee and caffeine have deleterious effect on sleep.

The study focused on past literature review and randomized control trials.

Incorporated relevant studies. A computerized literature search was conducted based on the web of science and MEDLINE electronic databases. Coffee, caffeine and sleep were the key search terms.

Coffee and caffeine were attributed to lack of sleep in most of the studies that were investigated.

Review on literature relating to the consumption of energy drinks by children and young people have not been developed which has created a loophole in research.

Energy drinks are non-alcoholic beverages that have high levels of caffeine

The study sought to explore the patterns of energy drinks consumption by children, attitudes and any association on health outcomes.

The study incorporated literature from past studies in getting a better understanding on the consumption of energy drinks by children.

Nine electronic bibliographic databases.

Evidence assessment and narrative synthesis were included to obtain the best outcomes. 410 studies were selected for review with a cross sectional design.

The study was able to determine that there is a growing evidence that suggests that energy drinks are associated with adverse health effects and risk behaviors.

This literature review will incorporate research studies focusing on both quantitative and qualitative studies in order to provide a wide range of focus on the underlying issues, which are being developed regarding the effects of caffeine intake among children. The selection of the articles was based on their validity and reliability. The selection criteria included study that done in the past five years.

Branum et.al (2014) sought to investigate the trends in caffeine intake among the children and adolescent in the United States. The study incorporated NHANES data from the year 1999 to 2010. The rate of caffeine intake within the united states among children and adolescents. Health professionals have significantly focused on creating a greater understanding on the increasing intake of caffeine especially with the increased availability of caffeinated products. Caffeine has been considered as safe by the food and drug administration. However, the existing issues relating to the outcomes of high intake of caffeine. The data that was analyzed in this case focused on understanding the trend of caffeine intake among children and adolescent over the years. The NHANES data that was included is a nationally representative survey of the civilian non-institutionalized population within the United States that comprises of household interviews and mobile examinations. Questionnaires were administered to the individuals who consented to participate through undergoing laboratory tests and physiologic measurements (Branum et.al., 2014).

The results from the analysis showed that 73% of children who participated in the study consumed caffeine every day and this percentage did not change over time. The proportion of caffeine intake from soda has expressively decreased over the years although the intake in coffee and energy drinks has increased over the years. The concern of caffeine intake among children has increased in recent years due to growing popularity of the energy drink as well as focus on sweetened coffee drinks (Branum et.al., 2014).

According to Ruotolo et.al (2016), the current lifestyle that many children have adopted is playing a key role in influencing their wellbeing. The type of food they consume has a substantial influenced on their overall wellbeing. The study sought to investigate children aged between 7 and 8 years through focus on 7 private and 4 public elementary schools in determining whether nighttime feeding practices influence their ability to develop parasomnia. Parasomnia includes a number of sleep disorders that involved abnormal movements, behavioral emotions, perceptions that tend to occur while an individual is sleeping. A 595-disturbance scale were distributed among the parents. The study included 226 participants who included into the study in order to provide a better understanding of the issues that were being addressed. The findings from the study showed that stimulant foods are associated with parasomnia among children (Ruotolo et.al., 2016).

Caffeinated food products were found to have a higher influence on the level of parasomnia. Reduction in sleep is associated with imbalances in metabolic and nutritional wellbeing of an individual. The type of food and the timing has a greater impact on the overall wellbeing of an individual. There is need to ensure that there is a greater understanding on the type of food that is consumed in order to void having serious parasomnia issues among children and adolescent as well as ensuring that there is a greater focus and understanding under which it would be crucial in having positive health wellbeing of children and adolescents. Children and adolescents are usually sensitive to the type of food they consume which play a key role in improving the overall focus under which it would be possible to improve their health status by ensuring that intake of stimulants is reduced in order to have comfortable sleep (Ruotolo et.al., 2016).

Richards and Smith (2016) conducted a study that aimed to create an understanding on the effects of omission of breakfast and consumption of energy drinks on stress, anxiety and depression among school going children. The study was developed based on the previous researches that have been developed with assertions that omission of breakfast and use of energy drinks has undesirable effects on children and adolescents. The study incorporated 3,071 participants in order to create a better understanding under which it would be possible to find the best outcomes from the large sample size. Questionnaires were administered to the sample size in creating a better understanding under which it would be possible to have a greater understanding on unbiased outcomes. The study incorporated bot cross sectional and longitudinal data that was obtained from secondary school children (Richards & Smith, 2016).

Energy drinks are high caffeinated which are thought to have higher benefits. The cross sectional analysis that was conducted revealed that omission of breakfast had adverse effect on the wellbeing of children while consumption of energy drinks was associated with injurious health concerns. Energy drinks need to be consumed in small proportions to limit the adverse health effects that are associated with high caffeine levels in these drinks. The promotion of energy drinks as dietary supplements is misleading since the high amount of caffeine that is contained in this drinks limits the overall wellbeing of an individual who consumes the drinks. Children are highly sensitive hence, they should be monitored in order to regulate the amount of caffeine intake (Richards & Smith, 2016).

Another study conducted by Richards and Smith (2016) sought to provide a different focus on the intake of caffeine and its impact on children. The purpose of the study was to determine whether caffeine intake in secondary school going children is linked to responses in general health. Caffeine intake is largely based on crucial understanding on the benefits and risks that are involved with caffeine intake. A sample size of 3,071 was considered where cross sectional data was integrated to create a better understanding under which it would be possible to improve the wellbeing of children. The findings from the study showed that caffeine is highly linked to general health of the participants and thus it is a positive aspect to ensure that there is a positive understanding on the need to develop better focus under which it would be possible to have proper focus on the existing caffeine intake levels among children (Richards & Smith, 2016).

Turnbull et.al (2017) provides a greater focus on the existing link between caffeine and cardiovascular health. The intake of caffeine has been majorly associated with a number of reversible and transient physiological effects especially on the heart. The level of influence that caffeine has on cardiovascular however has not be well developed which means that there exists a research gap in providing an existing link between caffeine intake and how it leads to cardiovascular. The study sought to provide a greater understanding on key underlying elements that could help establish the existing link between caffeine intake and cardiovascular effects. High-level intake of caffeine averaging 600 mg/day tend to improve the chances that an individual has in developing cardiovascular diseases. The study incorporated 310 studies where 113observational studies and 158 focused on experimental studies that focused on creating a superior understanding on the impact of caffeine intake on cardiovascular. The major conditions that were investigated in this case included blood pressure, stroke, sudden cardiac arrests and heart failure (Turnbull et.al., 2017).

The study was able to determine that the caffeine intake contributes to a certain extent the development of these conditions that are detrimental to the health conditions of an individual who is being engaged. The study was also able to determine that consumption of moderate caffeine amounts is associated with reduced risks of cardiovascular and some studies that were investigated showed that moderate caffeine intake tend to protect and individual from cardiovascular diseases. However, the level of intake of caffeine need to be kept within the moderate limits where it would be possible to monitor the development process of an individual. The population that is at high risk of hypertension including those that have the condition are more sensitive to some effects of caffeine. There is need to ensure that they have an understanding on their health conditions in order to have a better understanding under which it would be possible to limit the influence of caffeine on their health (Turnbull et.al., 2017).

The effect of caffeine on sleep has been greatly developed focusing on the need to develop a better understanding under which it is possible to improve the wellbeing of an individual. Clark and Landolt (2017) assert that coffee and caffeine are key stimulant products, which have a detrimental impact on an individual sleep. Caffeine is readily available occurring in coffee and other plants. Caffeine is used differently with reports indicating that it can be used to mitigate sleep, enhance performance and treat apnea in premature infants. These benefits of caffeine need to develop based on the amount consumed in a single day considering the fact that there exists varying outcomes of caffeine intake based on the quantities consumed. The study pursued to investigate from epidemiological studies randomized control trials on whether coffee and caffeine have deleterious effect on sleep. The study incorporated a qualitative data where it aimed to provide a better visual understanding on the issues that were being developed in the study (Clark &Landolt, 2017).

Therefore, in order to develop a better understanding on the existing issues, a computerized literature search was conducted based on the web of science and MEDLINE (PubMed) electronic databases. Coffee, caffeine and sleep were the key search terms. The key terms that were incorporated sought to provide a specific understanding on the underlying crucial article that have been developed which are relevant. The influence of coffee and caffeine on sleep is based on the fact that they are string stimulants and their ingestion activates neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine that are responsible for determining an individual mood (Clark &Landolt, 2017).

Visram et.al (2016) conducted a study where they sought to explore the patterns of energy drinks consumption by children, attitudes and any association on health outcomes. Children tend to develop a liking for a given product based on how they are influenced by the product and thus the high preference of caffeinated drinks has an impact on their wellbeing. Researches involving caffeine impact on children have been limited with no specific independent review study developed specifically to provide an understanding on the increasing consumption of energy drinks among children. Determining the health outcomes of energy drinks consumptions is key in understanding on whether to recommend energy drinks or focus on establishing greater focus on the underlying adverse outcomes of energy drinks especially to children. The study therefore focused to establish evidence based outcomes of the patterns of energy drinks consumption among children and the effect it has on their health (Visram et.al., 2016).

The study incorporated literature from past studies in getting a better understanding on the consumption of energy drinks by children. Nine electronic bibliographic databases. The databases were selected based on relevance and provision of evidence-based researches developed based on different research approaches. From the databases that were selected, 410 studies were selected for review with a cross sectional design. The findings from the review were able to determine that there is a growing evidence that suggests that energy drinks are associated with adverse health effects and risk behaviors. The growing evidence is based on the increasing presence of energy drinks where the amount of caffeine that is contained in each of the products developed is not regulated. The food and drug administration has classified caffeine as a safe drug which limits the need to develop specific interventions where manufacturers can focus on regulating the amount of caffeine that is contained in their products (Visram et.al., 2016).