Caffeinated carbonated drinks that children love cause sleep problems. According to research published in the Journal of Pediatrics, 75 percent. children eat them every day.
Researchers at the University of Nebraska in the US surveyed more than 200 children aged 5 to 12 and their parents during routine visits to a pediatric clinic. The questions concerned the types and amounts of snacks and drinks consumed by the children every day.
It turned out that some five-year-olds consumed the equivalent of a can of soda with caffeine (approx. 45 mg) a day. Children 8-12 years old consumed an average of 109 mg of caffeine per day (about 3 cans). The researchers noticed that the higher the daily dose of caffeine, the greater the sleep problems. Contrary to earlier assumptions, studies have not shown a relationship between caffeine consumption and bed wetting.
Parents should be aware of the potential negative impact of caffeine on the quality of sleep and the functioning of children during the day – emphasizes the lead author of the study, Dr. William Warzak. (PAP)