Surgeon General Recommendations On Caffeine

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, although caffeine has gotten a bum rap over the years, it actually presents no significant health risk when taken in moderation. However, it's still a drug. Caffeine is a stimulant, part of the family of methylxanthines, and it occurs naturally in several foods, including chocolate, colas, coffee and tea. Some over-the-counter medications contain caffeine as well.

Report on Nutrition and Health

The U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Nutrition and Health indicates that any effects that caffeine might have on heart disease are too negligible to warrant concern. The same report states that although consuming caffeine might contribute to a slight elevation in blood pressure, the increase is less than what you might experience climbing a flight of stairs. It's temporary and has no link to chronic hypertension. These findings were based on how much an individual might "normally consume" in the course of a day. Moderate consumption of caffeine is between 200mg and 300mg per day, according to the Mayo Clinic. So in that range, caffeine should be safe, according to the Surgeon General's findings.

Other Opinions

Both the National Academy of Sciences National Research Council and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration agree with the Surgeon General's position. The FDA placed caffeine on its GRAS list, generally recognized as safe, in 1958, although it also recommended in 1978 that researchers should conduct additional studies to dispel any doubts. The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs found that caffeine in moderate quantities does not impact heart arrhythmias.

Other Considerations

The Surgeon General did find that consuming caffeine can result in a small reduction in the body's ability to absorb calcium. However, this is only significant if you're not getting enough calcium to begin with. The American Dietetic Association warns that regular coffee drinkers can develop a tolerance to caffeine over time. Older adults may be more susceptible to the effects of caffeine than younger people.

Warning

Although caffeine may be safe in moderate quantities, the implications of combining it with alcohol in caffeinated alcoholic beverages are still under study as of 2011. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that these beverages, sold in the United States in convenience stores as well as liquor stores, may prompt binge drinking and risky sexual behavior in teenagers. In November 2009, the FDA issued a statement that when added to a malt alcoholic beverage, caffeine becomes an unsafe food additive and that the combination is a public health concern. The Surgeon General has not yet addressed the issue of caffeinated alcoholic beverages.