A pair of recent studies cast light on the effects of caffeine on the body. A report in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine reveals African-American teens are at increased risk of hypertension due to caffeine in soft drinks.
The study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (Washington), offered 81 African-Americans and 78 Caucasians a sodium-controlled diet for three days, with six of the 15 drink choices containing caffeine. Young African-Americans who consumed the most caffeine (100mg) were found to have “higher systolic upper blood pressure readings than all other adolescents in the study,” the report found.