We investigated whether the concerns of parents who often forbid their children from drinking coffee, reasoning that it can stunt their growth, are justified. Our research did not find any scientific studies supporting the theory that coffee slows down bone growth in children and adolescents. It remains unclear where this claim originated, but people often associate the negative effect of caffeine on calcium balance in the body with bone health.
However, modern research suggests that coffee is not as dangerous as previously thought. Adding 40 mg of calcium (approximately 30 ml of milk) to 150 ml of coffee is enough to compensate for its already minor negative impact on bone health. Although there was a myth for some time that coffee could cause osteoporosis, this hypothesis was never confirmed. Therefore, the harm of coffee to bone health is somewhat exaggerated.
In 1998, scientists conducted a study in the United States in which they observed the diets of 81 adolescent girls for six years. The participants were 12 years old at the beginning of the experiment and 18 at the end. The researchers divided them into three groups based on the amount of caffeine they consumed and measured their growth and bone density. The study found no significant differences between those who drank a lot of coffee (or consumed caffeine in other forms, such as energy drinks) and those who consumed almost none. Although this sample size was relatively small, the study should have revealed any correlation if there were one.
Among other things, scientists have been questioning the impact of caffeine on the health of children and adolescents. They have not found a correlation between coffee consumption and growth, although they recommend limiting caffeine intake to 2.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight (for comparison, a cup of espresso contains 212 mg of caffeine). The Canadian Ministry of Health also holds this opinion. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics believes that children and adolescents should not consume any amount of caffeine. Their website lists risks associated with consuming caffeine, including irritability, increased stress hormone levels, sleep disturbances, depression, and cognitive function impairment, among others. Although growth and bone development issues are not among them, doctors highlight a range of other risks.
Genetics primarily determines our growth, with tall parents increasing the likelihood of their child growing to similar heights, regardless of caffeine intake. A balanced and nutritious diet is another crucial factor, as micronutrients play a vital role in bone and physical development, particularly in childhood. Growth can be hindered by hormonal imbalances during childhood and adolescence, as well as chronic inflammatory diseases.
Sleep is an additional vital factor in growth. During sleep, the pituitary gland generates growth hormone, making healthy sleep crucial for bone growth and development. Sleep disruptions can result in childhood obesity, depression, and academic performance problems. As previously mentioned, caffeine, particularly when ingested just before bedtime, can impact the quality of sleep in children and adolescents, and therefore, it can hinder a child’s growth.
However, 73% of children and teenagers in the United States still consume caffeine from time to time, disregarding pediatric recommendations. If caffeine consumption had a considerable impact on their growth, there would have been scientific studies confirming this notion.
According to some medical experts, the belief that caffeine slows down growth may be connected to the fact that by the time teenagers begin actively consuming caffeine in various forms, their growth has already reached its maximum potential. Parents may falsely assume that their child has ceased growing after they begin drinking coffee. However, in this situation, the term “after” does not imply “as a result of.”
Doctors and scientists have yet to discover any correlation between children and teenagers who consume caffeine and their growth. While the effects of coffee on health have been thoroughly investigated, no experiments, observations, or other studies confirm this myth. Caffeine can only indirectly have a negative impact on growth as it may cause sleep disruptions, and it is during sleep that children produce growth hormone actively. However, the results of the studies we located do not support any significant difference in growth between children who consume caffeine in significant amounts and those who do not have it in their diet. Therefore, despite pediatricians not recommending children and teenagers to consume caffeine due to possible side effects, their growth does not depend on it.
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