AUTHOR=Liao Zhiqiang , Zeng Junjian , Chen Yixun , Liu Zhonghua , Zhou Zhidong 

TITLE=Exploring the association between dietary caffeine and chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional analysis of NHANES

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Nutrition

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1570403

DOI=10.3389/fnut.2025.1570403

ISSN=2296-861X

ABSTRACT=BackgroundThe association between dietary caffeine intake and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP) remains unclear, with previous studies yielding conflicting results. This study aims to investigate the association between dietary caffeine intake and CMP.MethodsThis cross-sectional study utilized data from the 2009–2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the United States. We employed multivariable logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline regression (RCS), stratified analysis, and sensitivity analysis to evaluate the association between dietary caffeine intake and CMP.ResultsThe study comprised 3,797 participants, with a mean age of 50.11 ± 17.57 years and a CMP prevalence of 18.41%. After full adjustment, multivariable logistic regression and RCS regression indicated a linear positive correlation between dietary caffeine intake and CMP. For each one-unit increase in log-transformed dietary caffeine intake, the risk of CMP increased by 8.35% (OR: 1.0835, 95% CI: 1.0351, 1.1358). Compared with the Q1 (−1.00–5.44 mg/d), the ORs for individuals in the Q2 (5.45–6.83 mg/d), Q3 (6.84–7.85 mg/d), and Q4 (7.86–11.48 mg/d) were 1.1556 (95% CI: 0.8866, 1.5075, p = 0.2852), 1.4256 (95% CI: 1.1006, 1.8505, p = 0.0074), and 1.5238 (95% CI: 1.1685, 1.9920, p = 0.0020), respectively. Additionally, stratified and sensitivity analyses yielded similar results.ConclusionThe study revealed a positive relationship between dietary caffeine intake and CMP, suggesting that higher caffeine consumption may be linked to an increased risk of CMP. Based on these findings, CMP patients may benefit from reducing their caffeine intake.