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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. www.civiceducation.clevelandclinic.org © Copyright 2015 Cleveland Clinic Foundation