Caffeinated sugar-sweetened beverages and common physical complaints in Icelandic children aged 10-12 years

Consumption of caffeinated sugar-sweetened beverages (CSSBs) among children and adolescents has increased markedly in recent years but the consequence of their consumption is not well understood. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of CSSBs in children aged 10–12 years and examine the relationship between CSSBs and common physical complaints.

Data from the 2013 cross-sectional population school survey Youth in Iceland (N=11,267, response rate: 90.1%, girls 49.7%)was used to assess the prevalence of cola and energy drink consumption and associations to headaches, stomachaches, sleeping problems and low appetite.

Around 19% of boys and 8% of girls reported consuming cola drinks on a daily basis and 7% of boys and 3% of girls reported consuming energy drinks. A general trend of a dose–response relationship was observed between CSSBs and physical complaints for both types of beverages. These relationships were generally stronger for energy drinks than cola drinks.

Our findings call into question the acceptability, availability, and marketing of CSSBs to 10–12 year-old children and adolescents. For validation purposes replications of these analyses are needed in other parts of the world, including studies using prospective longitudinal designs.