But a 1998 University of Minnesota study found that when kids abruptly stopped taking high doses of caffeine after 24 hours, it could have detrimental effects on attention and performance, particularly at school, for up to a week. I would want to caution caffeine usage in young children. Hofstra University psychology professor Mitchell Schare says large doses of caffeine can cause children to behave as though they have hyperactive disorders. The symptoms that we would typically see in children are bouts of uncontrollable energy, difficulty calming down, sitting peacefully. And another concern has been raised for teen-age girls.
Caffeine leeches small amounts of calcium from the bones.
A 1994 Harvard Medical School study found soft drink consumption increases the risk of bone fractures. But Dr. Muncie says there's no conclusive findings about any of these potential risks. From a medical perspective, there's absolutely no evidence that the caffeine is harmful to the kids, either in terms of their behavior, their activities or their health. That means if you buy Mountain Dew in Canada, you can only get it caffeine free. The Soft Drink Association says it's not put there for the buzz, it's for the flavor.