Reminded that caffeine is a diuretic, which causes water to be excreted more rapidly, Adamson grudgingly agrees. Despite soothing words from the industry, a few outfits are taking a stand against the rising use of caffeine by children. Since then, he's received no response. Guidelines may indeed be necessary. For years, independent scientific researchers have been urging caution.
Children respond to caffeine as do adults, according to a number of studies.
A low dose may aid concentration and task completion, but higher doses typically make children nervous, anxious, fidgety, frustrated and quicker to anger. Hofstra University psychology associate professor Mitchell Schare studied almost 400 preschoolers from upper-income New York City suburbs in 1994 and 1995. These kids' chief caffeine source was, surprisingly, iced tea, which many parents may not realize contains caffeine. Like adults, kids who are regular caffeine drinkers suffer ill effects when they don't get a regular shot. In a recent study by Stanford neurobiologist Avram Goldstein, fifth and sixth graders at a suburban Denver school deprived of daily caffeine reported having symptoms including trouble thinking clearly, not feeling energetic and getting angry.