From the Guidelines
Children should avoid consuming decaf coffee due to potential health risks, even in low doses, as it can affect their developing nervous systems and lead to sleep disturbances, increased heart rate, anxiety, headaches, and digestive issues. Decaf coffee still contains small amounts of caffeine, which can be harmful to children who are more sensitive to its effects than adults 1. The American dietary guidelines recommend limiting caffeine intake to 400 mg/d for adults, but for children and adolescents, the recommended limit is 2.5 mg · kg body weight –1 · d–1 1.
Some of the potential health risks associated with decaf coffee consumption in children include:
- Sleep disturbances
- Increased heart rate
- Anxiety
- Headaches
- Digestive issues
- Stomach upset due to compounds like tannins and acids
- Interference with iron absorption, potentially impacting nutritional status
Recent studies suggest that avoiding caffeine altogether is the best approach for children, as it can help prevent unhealthy dietary preferences and dependence on caffeinated beverages later in life 1. If parents are looking for warm beverage alternatives for children, better options include herbal teas (caffeine-free), warm milk, or hot chocolate in moderation. It is essential to consider the limited research on the long-term effects of regular coffee consumption in young people and prioritize their health and well-being.
From the Research
Potential Health Risks of Low-Dose Decaf Coffee in Children
The potential health risks of consuming low-dose decaf coffee in children are not well-studied, but existing research on caffeine intake and its effects can provide some insights.
- Caffeine intake recommendations for children and adolescents are 2.5 mg/kg bw/day as stated by Health Canada and 3 mg/kg bw/day by the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA 2.
- The safety of ingested caffeine has been reviewed, and it is reported that for healthy adults, caffeine consumption is relatively safe, but for some vulnerable populations, including children and adolescents, caffeine consumption could be harmful, including impairments in cardiovascular function, sleep, and substance use 3.
- Dietary sources, health benefits, and risks of caffeine have been studied, and it is summarized that the health benefits of caffeine depend on the amount of caffeine intake and the physical condition of consumers, and children, adolescents, pregnant women, and people who are sensitive to caffeine should be recommended to restrict/reduce their intake to avoid potential adverse effects 4.
- Decaffeinated coffee and its benefits on health have been reviewed, and it is considered that decaffeinated coffee compounds could have mainly beneficial effects, including antioxidant properties and antagonizing some negative effects of caffeine 5.
- A systematic review of the potential adverse effects of caffeine consumption in healthy adults, pregnant women, adolescents, and children has been conducted, and it is concluded that limited data were identified for child and adolescent populations, and the available evidence suggests that 2.5 mg caffeine/kg body weight/day remains an appropriate recommendation 6.
Key Findings
- Existing research focuses on caffeine intake and its effects, rather than specifically on low-dose decaf coffee.
- Children and adolescents are considered vulnerable populations for caffeine consumption.
- The health benefits and risks of caffeine depend on the amount of intake and individual physical condition.
- Decaffeinated coffee may have beneficial effects due to its non-caffeine compounds.
- More research is needed to characterize the effects of caffeine in sensitive populations, including children and adolescents.