The Buzz on Caffeine - Journal of the American Dietetic Association

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 29 Dec 2004 - 0:00 PDT


Coffee gets its perk from caffeine, and so do soft drinks and tea. According to researchers from the University of Vermont and the University of Maryland, these beverages are the top three dietary sources of caffeine among consumers.

Using data from the National Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals, the authors categorized caffeine consumers by age and gender including children and pregnant women, and caffeine sources by food and beverage categories. The researchers found that nearly 90 percent of adults and male teens plus 76 percent of children consumed caffeine. Average caffeine consumption was 193 milligrams per day.

With coffee shops popping up on almost every street corner, it's not surprising that coffee remains the primary source of caffeine for adults. However, the per capita quantity of coffee consumed has decreased over the past 50 years, from 16 gallons per year to 9 gallons. Soft drinks have overtaken tea as the second source of caffeine intake for men aged 18 to 54 and women aged 18 to 34 years.

For children aged 2 to 17, soft drinks were the primary source of caffeine. Caffeine consumed from energy beverages, caffeinated water, herbal supplements and medications were not included in this study.

Highlights of January Journal of the American Dietetic Association
Issue includes research on dietary sources of caffeine and supplement use among chronically ill children
The January 2005 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association contains articles and research studies you may find of interest. Below is a summary of some of this month's articles. For more information or to receive a faxed copy of a Journal article, e-mail media@eatright.org.

Contact: Kelly Liebbe
media@eatright.org
American Dietetic Association

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