Energy Drink
Health problems
Excessive consumption of energy drinks can have serious health effects resulting from high caffeine and sugar intakes, particularly in children, teenagers, and young adults.[20][21] Excessive energy drink consumption may disrupt teens’ sleep patterns and may be associated with increased risk-taking behavior.[20] Excessive or repeated consumption of energy drinks can lead to cardiac problems, such as arrhythmias and heart attacks, and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and phobias.[8][9][20]
The consumption of caffeinated energy drinks has been associated with adverse effects on cardiovascular health, including increased heart rate and blood pressure, which can pose risks for individuals with underlying heart conditions.[22][23] In Europe, energy drinks containing sugar and caffeine have been associated with the deaths of athletes.[24] Reviews have noted that caffeine content was not the only factor, and that the cocktail of other ingredients in energy drinks made them more dangerous than drinks whose only stimulant was caffeine; the studies noted that more research and government regulation were needed.[20][25]
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 18 do not consume caffeinated energy drinks.[26] For children under the age of 18, safe levels of caffeine consumption have not been established.[27]
Description
An energy drink is a type of non-alcoholic psychoactive functional beverage containing stimulant compounds, usually caffeine (at a higher concentration than ordinary soda pop) and taurine, which is marketed as reducing tiredness and improving performance and concentration (marketed as “energy”, but distinct from food energy). They may or may not be carbonated and may also contain sugar, as well as other sweeteners, or herbal extracts, among numerous other possible ingredients. Energy drinks are different from sugar-sweetened beverages. While both energy drinks and sugar-sweetened beverages typically contain high levels of sugar, energy drinks include stimulants like caffeine and taurine and are marketed for energy, and sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit juices usually are not.[1]
They are a subset of the larger group of energy products, which includes bars and gels, and are distinct from sports drinks, which are advertised to enhance sports performance. There are many brands and varieties in this drink category.[2][3]
Energy drinks have the effects of caffeine and sugar, but there is little or no evidence that the wide variety of other ingredients has any effect.[4] Most effects of energy drinks on cognitive performance, such as increased attention and reaction speed, are primarily due to the presence of caffeine.[5] Other studies ascribe those performance improvements to the effects of the combined ingredients.[6]
Advertising for energy drinks usually features increased muscle strength and endurance, but there is no scientific consensus to support these claims.[7] Energy drinks have been associated with many health risks, such as an increased rate of injury when usage is combined with alcohol, and excessive or repeated consumption can lead to cardiac and psychiatric conditions.[8][9] Populations at risk for complications from energy drink consumption include youth, caffeine-naive or caffeine-sensitive, pregnant, competitive athletes and people with underlying cardiovascular disease.[10]
Ingredients and uses
Energy drinks are usually marketed to young people and provide the health effects of caffeine.[11] The caffeine content of energy drinks is between 50mg and 505mg per serving, compared to 90mg in 250ml of coffee, 50mg in 250ml of tea, and 34mg in 500ml of cola.[12]
There is no reliable evidence that other ingredients in energy drinks provide further benefits, even though the drinks are frequently advertised in a way that suggests they have unique benefits.[11][13] The dietary supplements in energy drinks may be purported to supply benefits, such as for vitamin B12,[11][14] but no claims of using supplements to enhance health in otherwise normal people have been verified scientifically.
Marketing of energy drinks has been particularly directed towards teenagers, with manufacturers sponsoring or advertising at extreme sports events and music concerts, and targeting a youthful audience through social media channels.[15]
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