title: Caffeine intake from carbonated beverages among primary school-age children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess caffeine intake from cola beverages and energy drinks, as well as the consumption frequency among primary-school-age children in relation to other dietary habits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 329 children (aged 11-13 years) from five randomly selected schools in Warsaw. Caffeine intake was assessed from a food frequency questionnaire. The face-to-face interview method was selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  89.7% of the children consumed carbonated beverages whom caffeine, of which nearly 24% consumed energy drinks. The median caffeine intake from carbonated beverages was 0.12 mg/kg body weight/day, accounting for 4.8% of the recommended maximum daily intake from all dietary sources. Frequent consumers of cola drinks were often found to eat fast foods, as well as salty snacks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Caffeine intake in the studied group of children turned out to be at a safe level. The safe dose of caffeine does not mean that consumption of carbonated drinks should not raise any concerns. The recently established legal ban on selling unhealthy foods at school is a good idea, since the school should not be a place for improper dietary models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Powsińska St. 61/63, 02-903 Warsaw, Poland Telephone: (+48 22) 550-97-47 Fax: (+48 22) 842-11-03 e-mail: rwierzejska@izz.waw.pl.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wierzejska
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolnicka
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarosz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jaczewska-Schuetz
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taraszewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics with the Clinic of Metabolic Diseases and Gastroenterology, National Food and Nutrition Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siuba-Strzelińska
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002253:Carbonated Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012494:Sampling Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine
keywords: cola drinks; diet; energy drinks