Decaffeinated Children, Please...

from medpagetoday:
APA: First Graders' Behavior Problems Linked to Caffeinated Cola
By Paula Moyer, MedPage Today Staff Writer
May 23, 2005

First-graders have more behavior problems on the days that they are exposed to caffeinated colas than on the days that they have caffeine-free drinks, according to Chicago investigators who reported today to the American Psychiatric Association meeting here.

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"Exposure to caffeinated cola drinks impaired children's learning ability by causing restlessness, hyperactivity, and inattention," he said. "On the days that the children were drinking caffeinated drinks, their Connors scores increased an average of 5.5 points compared to the days that they were only drinking caffeine-free drinks." Dr. Hirsch is the director of the Smell and Taste. The Connors test is a standard screen for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

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"The study shows why it is so important to completely evaluate young children who are having behavioral and emotional problems, and to review the child's dietary habits, including caffeinated beverages, as part of the evaluation," Dr. Fassler said. Although questions about caffeine consumption are typically part of the screen for anxiety disorders, pediatric insomnia, and ADHD, the findings are a reminder not to neglect this part of the evaluation.