Caffeine Consumption Linked with Teens' Blood Pressure

Caffeine influenced teenagers'daytime blood pressure, especiallyamong African Americans, according to a study reported inthe American Journal of Hypertension (January 2005). The currentstudy, which was based on 24-hour measurements of bloodpressure taken with a portable recorder, supported earlierresearch by the same investigators in which they used one-timereadings of blood pressure.

For the study, 41 African American and 41 Caucasian adolescentschose foods and beverages for a 4-day sodium-controlleddiet. The participants were separated into 3 groups based ontheir caffeine intake, and ambulatory blood pressure measurementswere taken during 1 of the 4 days. The results showed thatboth groups'daytime blood pressures increased as caffeineintake rose. A greater effect was seen in the African-Americangroup. The researchers noted, however, that caffeine consumptionwas not related to nighttime blood pressure.