Energy drinks are a unique class of beverages that are marketed as increasing mental alertness, decreasing sleepiness, and relieving fatigue. Many varieties are available, but their main ingredients typically include some combination of caffeine, sugar, vitamins, amino acids, and herbal supplements. These ingredients can have complex and sometimes harmful effects on the consumer, and claims of efficacy are without clinical proof. Because of their popularity in the athletic and fitness worlds, it is important for clinicians, trainers, and parents to be able to critically evaluate these products in order to make informed decisions about allowing their use. Energy drinks are designed to boost mental alertness and physical endurance. Many energy drinks contain volumes of caffeine that long exceed the level at which caffeine use has been associated with significant adverse effects, and consumption of these beverages is associated with various health concerns. General concerns about heavy reliance on caffeine to remain awake include interactions with ethanol, abuse potential, and the potential for cardiovascular-related adverse effects. In addition to caffeine, many energy drinks contain sucrose as a sweetener and guarana to boost their caffeine content. Other additives commonly found in energy drinks include glucuronolactone, taurine, B vitamins, and herbal supplements such as ginseng or yohimbine. Consumers should consider that each individual ingredient found in these products has the potential to trigger adverse reactions through excessive use.
2.1. Ingredients and Composition
Knowledge of the ingredients and composition of energy drinks is important for understanding potential interactions and impacts of energy drinks with pharmaceuticals or other drinks, including alcohol. The overall composition of energy drinks may vary based on the total ingredients and quantities used. 2.1.1. Basic Ingredients We have outlined the basic ingredients of energy drinks, and caffeine is the common ingredient found in all energy drinks. Caffeine amounts in energy drinks can range from an average of 80 mg in a single 250 mL can to upwards of 200 mg in a single 60 or 70 mL bottle. However, a plain brewed coffee has an average of 135 mg of caffeine, but it is generally served in much larger portions, often with sugar and cream. A product with 80 mg of caffeine in a 250 mL can is approximately 320 mg to 320 mg of caffeine per liter of product. This concentrated level of caffeine could impact heart health, where moderate consumption of plain coffee has been suggested to be cardio-protective. 2.1.2. Additional Ingredients Medical and nutrition organizations currently approve the use of many nutrients and vitamins in daily human nutrition at specific RDA levels. However, there are concerns about overconsumption of these ingredients. There are also some additional ingredients that have not been proven safe, and in fact, the evidence suggests that many are not safe or have unknown effects on health. Ingredients not approved for use in Canada, but used in energy drinks in other parts of the world, include carnitine, glucuronolactone, and pyridoxine hydrochloride. There are also many botanical extracts that do not have a comprehensive list of constituents. There is quite a bit of variation in the individual components of botanicals, so a single standard may not capture the ingredient in discussion. These herbals, vitamins, minerals, and other supplements may also have interactions, stimulate different biological mechanisms, be taken not at recommended dosages, or may affect people differing in age, sex, ethnicity, or individual health status. Subsequent sections discuss the safety of commonly used and additional ingredients in energy drinks. Also, as the Modified Public Health Framework shows, issues with food additives extend beyond human health and extend to animal health, soil, and water quality, and the use of additional resources to continue to produce these products.
In general, energy drinks that contain carbohydrates in the form of sugars may help to improve attention and cognitive function. Sugar induces a rapid release of insulin and stimulation of brain neurotransmitters that can help attention and cognitive function. In contrast, sugar-free energy drinks did not have the same effect due to lack of sugar. That is, it is the effect of sugar rather than of other ingredients, such as the caffeine content, that may have a stimulant action on physical and cognitive processes. The content of vitamins and other substances that favor metabolism have been found to benefit the individual's health and wellness, when the energy drinks were not consumed in excess. Caffeine is a good resource for sustained attention after a limited period but the broader effects of energy drink consumption on stress, depression, and
Order this paper