Researchers at West Virginia University found that caffeine use in early adolescence is associated with smoking and other forms of nicotine use. Study published magazine PLOS ONE.
Recently, many teens regularly consume caffeinated products such as coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks or candy. However, this is associated with a certain amount of damage due to the constant maturation of the nervous system.
The study looked at whether caffeine intake at the start of an experiment could predict the likelihood of a higher nicotine intake at follow-up.
The team analyzed data from more than 1,000 students from 20 schools. They included information about the amount of caffeinated products consumed and the frequency of nicotine use. Data were collected from autumn 2020 to spring of the following year. The follow-up survey was conducted between April and May 2021.
The results showed a significant relationship between caffeine intake and nicotine intake. With an increase in caffeine use by one point, the probability of starting nicotine use after six months increased by 13-15%.