[Assessment of caffeine intake in children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in Beijing City].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the intake of caffeine from snacks among children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in Beijing City.

METHODS

A multi-stage stratified cluster random sampling method was adopted to obtain the consumption status of caffeine-containing snacks among 881 school-age children and adolescents in Chaoyang, Changping and Yanqing Districts through a 3 d 24 h continuous questionnaire survey between October 2016 and February 2017, and the caffeine content in snacks was obtained through literature retrieval and laboratory detection.

RESULTS

The proportion of caffeinated snacks consumers among children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in Beijing was 42. 45%(374/881). The average daily caffeine intake of the whole population was 9. 19 mg, with a median of 0 and a P95 of 41. 38 mg. The average daily caffeine intake of consumers was 21. 66 mg, with a median of 11. 03 mg and 76. 99 mg of P95. About 1. 60%(6/374) of individuals exceeded the daily safe intake level and there were statistically significant differences in caffeine intake between different ages, genders, grades and groups with and without tea drinking habits after weight was taken into account. Among the top three contributors, 12. 13 mg of caffeine was derived from tea, milk tea and tea beverages(including solid drinks), with a contribution rate which reached 56. 01%, 4. 35 mg of caffeine was derived from coffee, with a contribution rate of 20. 09%, and 3. 31 mg of caffeine was derived from cola and energy drinks, with a contribution rate of 15. 30%, and there existed slightly difference of the top three contribution foods among 6-11 and 12-17 years old children and adolescents.

CONCLUSION

Children and adolescents aged 6-17 years in Beijing City had low caffeine intake levels from snacks and there was little risk of overconsumption. Tea, milk tea and tea beverages(including solid drinks) was the major contributor to its caffeine exposure.