Gender Difference in Response to Caffeine in Children and Adolescents

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2012-10-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Caffeine use is on the rise in America, and one of the most popular sources is soda. Among youth ages 8-16, caffeine consumption has increased by over 70% in the past 30 years. Few studies have examined the role of hormones in caffeine consumption within this age group.

The purpose of the current experiment was to determine the effect of caffeine on children 8 and 9 compared to those 15 and 16 years of age. The investigators were looking at the effect of puberty on the consumption of caffeine as well as the effect that the caffeine has on the body (for example: heart rate, blood pressure) and cognitive function.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: State University of New York at Buffalo
• Treatments: Caffeine

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• males and females from 8-9 yoa or 15-17 yoa (post pubertal)

• those 8-9 much have Tanner Staging below 3

• those 15-17 much have Tanner Staging above 3.

• willing to come into the lab 6 times for 1.5-2 hours each

• those willing to abstain from consuming caffeine for 24 hours before each appointment

• those willing to withdraw from consuming anything other than water for 2 hours before each appointment.

• 15-17 year old females much have begun menarche

Exclusion Criteria:

• those on ADHD medication or other's impacting caffeine metabolism

• those reporting being on birth control or other hormones

• those that are pregnant or breastfeeding

• those outside the given age range or pubertal classification

• those reporting having an adverse effect of caffeine in the past