Is it true that coffee slows down a child's growth?

Parents often forbid their children to drink coffee, citing the fact that it may prevent them from growing up. We decided to check whether these fears have any basis.

Subject the effect of coffee on height very popular V services questions and answers - people often ask about this teenagerswho were scared by their parents. On vegetarian sites writethat the negative effect of coffee on the growth and development of a child has been “scientifically proven.” Similar opinion Can find on thematic portalsdedicated to tea and coffee.

We were unable to find a single scientific study whose results in any way supported the theory that coffee slows down bone growth in children and adolescents. It is unknown where this statement came from, but it is often associated with negative influence caffeine on calcium balance in the body and, as a result, bone health. 

However, modern research testifythat coffee is not so scary: to compensate there's enough of it already minor negative impact, it is enough to add 40 mg of calcium to 150 ml of coffee (this approximately 30 ml milk). For a while existed a myth that coffee can cause osteoporosis, but this hypothesis has never been confirmed. Therefore, the harm of coffee for bone health is somewhat exaggerated. 

Back in 1998, the USA held study, during which scientists observed the diet of 81 teenage girls for six years. At the beginning of the experiment they were 12 years old, at the end - 18. The researchers conditionally divided the participants into three groups according to the amount of caffeine consumed, and then measured their height and bone density. There were no significant differences between those who drank a lot of coffee (or consumed caffeine in other forms, such as in energy drinks) and those who drank little to no caffeine. Of course, this is a fairly narrow sample, but the study should have shown at least some kind of correlation, if it existed.

Were asked question about the effect of caffeine on the health of children and adolescents and other scientists. They also found no relationship between height and coffee consumption, although they recommended limiting caffeine consumption to 2.5 mg per 1 kg of body weight (compared to a cup espresso - 212 mg caffeine). Same opinion adheres to, such as Health Canada. And here is the American Academy of Pediatrics believesthat there is no safe dose of caffeine for children and adolescents. Their website lists the risks that may be associated with children drinking coffee, and problems with bone growth and formation are not among them. But doctors identify a number of others: irritability, increased levels of stress hormones, violations sleep, depression, decline cognitive functions, etc.

What is it really from? depends our growth? Primarily from genetics. If the parents were tall, the chance that the child will grow to approximately the same levels is quite high, regardless of the caffeine consumed. Another important factor is a healthy nutrition, since nutrients directly affect bone formation and body development, especially in childhood. Hormonal disorders in childhood and adolescence and chronic inflammatory conditions can negatively affect growth. diseases. 

However, another quite important factor is dream. The pituitary gland in children produces growth hormone during sleep, so healthy sleep is essential for bone growth and development. In addition, sleep disturbances can lead to childhood obesity, depression and cause problems with academic performance at school. And as we have already found out, caffeine, especially consumed shortly before bedtime, really affects its quality in children and adolescents. So in this sense, it can indeed slow down the growth of the child.

However, despite pediatricians' recommendations, 73% of children and adolescents in the United States experience use caffeine. Therefore, if it really somehow seriously influenced their growth, there would probably be scientific studies confirming this.

Some medical experts think: The myth of stunting stems from the fact that by the time teenagers begin actively consuming caffeine in various forms, their height is already at its maximum. Parents may feel that when they start drinking coffee, their child stops growing. But in this case, “after” does not mean “as a result.”

Thus, doctors and scientists have not found a correlation between caffeine consumption in children and adolescents and their growth. Despite the fact that coffee and its effects on health are quite well studied, there are no experiments, observations or other studies that would confirm this myth. Caffeine can negatively affect growth only indirectly, since its side effects may include sleep disturbance, namely, growth hormone is actively produced in children during sleep. However, the studies we were able to find did not confirm that there was any significant difference in growth between those children who consumed significant amounts of caffeine and those who did not have this substance in their diet. Therefore, despite the fact that pediatricians do not recommend that children and adolescents consume caffeine due to possible side effects, the child’s growth does not depend on it.

Mostly not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Is it true that drinking coffee leads to dehydration?
2. Is it true that sweets make children hyperactive?
3. Is it true that drinking during meals is bad for digestion?