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Does drinking coffee stunt your growth and bone health?

In short, coffee is unlikely to affect your growth.


Although caffeine consumption has been associated with increased urinary calcium excretion, there is no evidence that it affects calcium homeostasis or bone mineral density in adolescents or young adult women, nor in individuals who ingest adequate calcium.

However, we should also be aware that while caffeine is a stimulant that increases alertness, too much caffeine can cause issues such as increased anxiety, increased heart rate and blood pressure, acid reflux, and sleep disturbance.


To go more in-depth: the dietary consumption of caffeine is associated with increased renal excretion of calcium. This effect is partially offset by decreased renal excretion of calcium during the night. Study in adults showed that loss of bone mineral density was associated with low calcium intake (<800 mg/day), in addition to high caffeine intake (>300 to 450 mg/day, approximately two to three cups of brewed coffee per day), and genetic predisposition. Data in adolescents and young adults are limited, but two studies suggest that caffeine consumption (mean intake <100 mg/day, approximately two cans of caffeine-containing soda) is not a significant predictor of bone mineral density in White females. This data is also supported by a review of available data in multiple age groups.


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