There is nowadays an increasing consumption of energy drinks – beverages that can keep us awake and keep us alert and have more concentration to meet the demands of our work. Among children and teenagers energy drink consumption may just be part of a fad. 

Energy drinks have additives to increase stamina, alertness, and concentration. 

Contents include the following in different amounts: Caffeine from different sources, sugar, stimulants (ginseng, guarana, yerba mate, taurine, L-carnitine, D-glucoronolactone, inositol), certain vitamins and minerals.

Caffeine. High caffeine content causes palpitations (You can feel your heart beating faster and harder), hypertension, nausea (the feeling that you like to vomit), vomiting, and convulsions. 

Caffeine content ranges from 47 to 80 grams for every eight ounce to 207 mg. per two ounces drink. 

Caffeine intake up to 400 mg. per day is generally considered safe among adults but no intensive studies have been done yet to know if there is any tolerable level of caffeine in children and adolescents.

Sugar. Energy drinks contain high amounts of high-fructose corn syrup, sucrose, or artificial sweeteners. A 500 ml. or 16.9 ounce can usually contains 54 grams sugar. This can lead to diabetes mellitus. Fructose is a type of easily digestible sugar that has also been linked to elevation of blood uric acid and other illnesses. 

Guarana is an extract from a plant grown in South America. It has a high amount of caffeine – one gram is equivalent to 40 mg. caffeine. 

Ginseng is an herbal supplement popular in Asia. It has been reported to have effects like antioxidation, vasorelaxation (relaxation of blood vessels), anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer effects. 

Yerba mate, has high caffeine content of 78 mg. per cup. It may have anti-cancer properties, aids in weight control and inflammation management. 

Taurine has been reported to be an anti-inflammatory agent and has been suggested to have a role in the management of cystic fibrosis, heart failure, epilepsy, and diabetes. 

Vitamin B12 is the most common B vitamin added to energy drinks. As this may already be present in our daily diet, the added amount will just be excreted in the urine and not give beneficial effects. 

While it has been shown that energy drinks can have short-term or temporary health benefits, most studies suggest bad health effects of short and long term intake of energy drinks. These are due mainly to the high content of caffeine and sugar. Studies on the effects of the other contents are limited.

Commonly reported health problems related to the use of energy drinks are tiredness, chronic fatigue, headaches, stomach aches, and irritability. 

Risk-seeking behaviors have also been linked to the use of energy drinks. In studies in the U.S., Canada and Europe among high school students/adolescents and adults, significant associations were noted between energy drink consumption and substance abuse: increased use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana or amphetamines. Linkage was also seen between energy drink consumption and status of mental health, stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and suicidal ideation. The association may be due to loss of sleep which in turn contributes to poor functioning and mental health. 

Caffeine toxicity is believed to occur above 400 mg. per day in adults, 100 mg. per day in adolescents (12 to 18 years old) and 2.5 mg. per kilogram in children (less than 12 years old). It is believed that the risk for caffeine toxicity from energy drinks is greater compared to caffeine from coffee or tea because of poor labeling and higher amount of consumption due to heavy advertising and lack of strict regulatory laws.

The sugar content of energy drinks – considered as sugar sweetened beverages has been associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. High prevalence of dental caries has also been noted: sugars from the drinks are used by bacteria in the mouth and in the process produce acid that promote tooth decay. 

In some studies, association has been shown between the high fructose content of energy drinks and kidney disease: the small blood vessels of kidneys are damaged and preexisting kidney disease rapidly progresses. 

Considering the bad effects of energy drinks, these are banned in Denmark, Turkey, Norway, Uruguay, and Iceland. In Sweden, sale is restricted to pharmacies and these are not sold to children. 

While there are no strict regulatory laws on the use of these beverages, we are encouraged to be vigilant and avoid its use.

Your Medical Corner by Josefina Laza-Luspian, published on Baguio Midland Courier September 24, 2017 issue