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Does Coffee Really Stunt
Growth?
Victoria Grabinski, Sophia Rafferty,
Julia Sabik, Ikram Aidja, Sapir Flank,
Sarah May Famadico, Daniel Falokun,
and Divya Batchu
Healthcare Belief
● Old wife’s tale: Coffee stunts growth
○ Origin unknown
■ Perhaps originated from European stigma on
the “devilish” roots of coffee and more recent
studies linking coffee consumption with
decreased bone mass
● Later found to be inconclusive because of
confounding variables
○ Question remains: Does coffee hinder a child’s
growth?
Initial Group Vote
● Coffee Stunts Growth…
○ Fact 3 vs. Fiction 5
Background
● Coffee has been the subject of many medical myths
throughout history
○ 17th century England: “Good against sore eyes” &
“Excellent to prevent and cure the dropsy, gout,
miscarriage, and scurvy”
○ 18th century Germany: Caused sterility in women
○ More recently: Question of coffee’s health
implications, particularly growth in children
■ More relevant than ever: Annually, coffee is a $30
billion industry in the United States
■ Companies like Starbucks attract a younger
crowd than coffee drinkers have been historically
Background Cont.
A 1993 Postum (coffee substitute)
advertisement blaming a child’s health
problems—including “[hampered]
growth and development”—on coffee
consumption
“The Vertue of the COFFEE Drink":
Thought to be the first ever coffee
advertisement, highlighting both its
taste and its supposed health
benefits
Background
● For its rumored negative effects, coffee also has its benefits
○ Increased energy thanks to active ingredient caffeine
■ Boosts activity of neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine,
and acetylcholine
■ Increases release rate of catecholamines (e.g. adrenaline)
via the sympathetic nervous system
● Improved memory, mood, vigilance, energy levels,
reaction times and general cognitive function
○ Rich in antioxidants
■ Prevent free radical damage; possibly linked to decreased
cancer and heart disease
○ 23+% lower risk of developing type II diabetes
■ Magnesium and Chromium in coffee help the body use
insulin, which controls blood sugar
● Can these benefits compensate for the “risks”... and are the “risks”
scientifically founded in the first place?
Hypothesis
● Drinking coffee will not stunt children’s growth
○ Confounding variables in previously conducted studies
account for misconception
○ More recent and scientifically-sound data will show little to
no link between coffee and growth patterns
○ The benefits of coffee, specifically the associated cognitive
boosts, justify its consumption in moderation
■ Common coffee additions like creamer and sugar may
contribute to less favorable health effects
Experiment
● One study conducted a trial on women aged 65–77 who drank
more than 300 milligrams (mg) of caffeine daily — about 18
ounces (or 2 cups) of regular coffee
● Some women showed greater bone loss over a three-year
period than those who drank less
○ Limitation: The women who experienced greater bone loss
all had a variation of the cell’s vitamin D receptors, which
occurs in a minority of women
■ The majority of bone loss in older women is due to a
decreased intake of calcium
● Pre-menopausal women do not appear to be
affected by the intake of coffee/caffeine
Experiment
● A similar study of 81 girls age 12-18 followed their total body
bone mineral gain and hipbone density over a six-year
period
○ No statistically significant difference detected between
the group that consumed coffee and the group that did
not (control group)
■ Proposed explanation: Although the body may
absorb less Calcium when coffee is consumed, the
body compensates by releasing less Calcium in the
urine
Data Analysis
● Confounding variables aside, no true link between
coffee consumption and inhibited growth is
scientifically backed.
● In select groups (e.g. post-menopausal women), increased
coffee consumption has been shown to be harmful.
○ Attributed to decreased calcium intake
○ People with impaired vitamin D receptor function
Conclusion
● The caffeine found in coffee does not stunt children’s growth
directly.
○ If the child is consuming coffee instead of healthier drinks,
such as milk and water, then the negative effects of not
receiving sufficient calcium can be inhibitory to the child’s
bone growth and development.
● Coffee has been associated with numerous health benefits, most
notably heightened cognitive function.
○ However, it is important to limit caffeine intake at any age to
ensure that the individual does not develop high blood
pressure or heart arrhythmia, conditions which have been
associated with coffee consumption.
○ Limit the amount of cream/flavoring or sugar that is added to
the coffee so as to reduce associated health problems.
References
● "It's a Myth: There's No Evidence That Coffee Stunts Kids' Growth."
Smithsonian. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July 2015.
● "Nutrition and Healthy Eating." Caffeine: How Much Is Too Much? N.p.,
n.d. Web. 08 July 2015.
● Garber, Megan. "Coffee: Preventing Scurvy Since 1650." The Atlantic.
Atlantic Media Company, 16 July 2012. Web. 08 July 2015.
● "Myths and Facts about Caffeine." (EUFIC). N.p., n.d. Web. 08 July
2015.
● "Health Benefits of Coffee." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 08 July 2015.
● "Ask The Professor." Why Does Caffeine Give You Energy? N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 July 2015.
● "13 Proven Health Benefits of Coffee (No. 1 Is My Favorite)." RSS 20.
N.p., 25 Nov. 2013. Web. 08 July 2015.
● "Result Filters." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S.
National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 08 July 2015.
● "RX Drugs Overview." Does Caffeine Stunt Your Growth. N.p., n.d.
Web. 08 July 2015.
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