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Advances in Urinary Caffeine Metabolites and Dietary Habits in Children

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Metabolism".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 330

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong, China
Interests: children health; exposure pathways; risk assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Caffeine, a widely consumed psychoactive substance, is increasingly present in the diets of children due to its inclusion in beverages, snacks, and over-the-counter medications. While its effects on adults have been extensively studied, the implications of caffeine consumption in pediatric populations remain poorly understood, particularly concerning its metabolic pathways, health outcomes, and interactions with dietary habits. This Special Issue, titled “Advances in Urinary Caffeine Metabolites and Dietary Habits in Children”, aims to address this critical gap by exploring the role of urinary caffeine and metabolites as biomarkers of exposure and their relationship with dietary patterns, lifestyle factors, and health risks in children. This issue encompasses interdisciplinary research focusing on the quantification and interpretation of urinary caffeine and metabolites, their association with caffeine intake from various dietary sources, and the potential impact on children’s physical, cognitive, and behavioral development. Contributions may include studies on the influence of sociodemographic factors, cultural practices, and food environments on caffeine consumption, as well as on the development of novel analytical methods for metabolite detection. Additionally, this issue encourages investigations into the long-term health implications of early caffeine exposure and its interplay with other dietary components. This Special Issue seeks to inform evidence-based dietary guidelines and public health strategies to safeguard children’s health and well-being.

Dr. Wen-Jing Deng
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • children
  • caffeine
  • endocrine disrupting chemicals
  • exposure pathwyas

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1819 KiB  
Article
Urinary Caffeine Levels in Chinese Children: Insights from Diet, Gender, and Regional Variations
by Wen-Jing Deng and John Chi-Kin Lee
Nutrients 2025, 17(9), 1594; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17091594 - 6 May 2025
Viewed by 262
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The consumption of caffeine products among children in China is on the rise, yet there remains a paucity of evidence regarding the variability of caffeine consumption and the influencing factors. Urinary caffeine levels provide a valid indicator of caffeine intake, as it [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The consumption of caffeine products among children in China is on the rise, yet there remains a paucity of evidence regarding the variability of caffeine consumption and the influencing factors. Urinary caffeine levels provide a valid indicator of caffeine intake, as it directly reflects the quantitative measure of consumption within the population. This study aimed to investigate the effects of diet, gender, and region on urinary caffeine concentrations in Chinese children and their parents, specifically focusing on participants from Guangdong province and Guangxi province. Methods: Morning urine samples were pretreated using liquid-liquid extraction. Caffeine and creatinine concentrations were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS), with quality control measures ensuring method accuracy (recovery rate: 92.8–122%, RSD < 20%). Caffeine exposure was assessed through estimated daily intake (EDI) calculations, and statistical analyses, including weighted regression and Spearman correlation, were conducted to evaluate associations with demographic and dietary variables. Results: The findings revealed that urinary caffeine levels and detection rates among Chinese children were significantly lower than those observed in the United States (30.1 ng/mL), with a median concentration of 2.18 ng/mL and a detection rate of 45%. Urinary caffeine concentrations in males were slightly higher than in females; however, these gender differences were not statistically significant. Certain dietary habits, particularly milk consumption, were found to influence urinary caffeine levels and detection rates. Using the random forest method, urine caffeine detection was highest (nearly 60%) when milk was consumed three times a week. Regionally, children in Guangdong had marginally higher urinary caffeine concentrations compared to those in Guangxi (median: 5.20 μg/gcrea vs. 1.58 μg/gcrea). The estimated daily caffeine intake suggested that children in China consume less caffeine than their counterparts in other countries. Conclusions: These results indicate that dietary habits significantly correlated with caffeine consumption in children, and urinary caffeine concentration serves as a valuable measure for dietary research. Full article
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