BSC 2347 Consumption of Energy Drinks Discussion
BSC 2347 Consumption of Energy Drinks Discussion
BSC 2347 Consumption of Energy Drinks Discussion
Consumption of energy drinks (such as Redbull®, Monster
Energy Drink®, and Rockstar®) among children, teenagers, and young adults has
risen in the last decade. Emergency department visits relating to energy drink
consumption has also risen (Thorlton, 2014). These drinks contain various
vitamins and electrolytes, and other ingredients that alter the body’s fluid
balance.
Research the effects these energy drinks have on the body
and the complications associated with them. In your post, address the following
questions:
How do energy drinks influence the overall electrolyte and
acid-base balance of the body?
Should this multi-billion dollar industry be more highly
regulated? Why or why not?
Should energy drink companies be allowed to market these
products to children? Why or why not?
Should it be illegal to sell them to anyone under the age of
16? Why or why not?
Should these drinks have a warning label on them? Why or why
not?
Reference
Thorlton, J., Colby, D. A., & Devine, P. (2014).
Proposed actions for the US Food and Drug Administration to implement to
minimize adverse effects associated with energy drink consumption. American
Journal of Public Health, 104(7), 1175-1180. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.301967
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Energy drinks belong to a class of products, in liquid form, that typically contain caffeine, with or without other added dietary supplements. The first energy drink appeared in the U.S. in 1949 and was marketed as “Dr. Enuf”. (1) In Europe, they were launched for the first time in 1987; then the market expanded throughout the world, becoming very popular after the launch of Red Bull in 1997. (2) Since then, the energy drink market has grown dramatically, with various brands released worldwide. The annual consumption of energy drinks in 2013 exceeded 5.8 billion liters in around 160 countries. (3) The estimated total U.S. retail market value for energy drinks was around 12.5 billion USD in 2012 and the market increased 56% from 2006 to 2002. (2)
Manufacturers recently have shifted their consumer focus from athletes to young people. Energy drinks are aggressively marketed in places popular with teens and young adults. Approximately, two thirds of energy drink consumers are 13–35 years old, and boys are two thirds of the market. (4) In the U.S., energy drinks are the second most common dietary supplement used by young people; about 30% consume energy drinks on a regular basis. (5) The popularity of energy drinks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia does not seem to differ from other parts of the world. Around half of the Saudi University students who participated in a survey admitted to regular consumption of energy. (6)
Energy drinks are designed to give an “energy boost” to the drinker by a combination of stimulants and energy boosters. The major constituent in most energy drinks is caffeine. They usually contain 80–150 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces, which is equivalent to 5 ounces of coffee or two 12-ounce cans of caffeinated soda. (7) Most of the brands on the market contain large amounts of glucose while some brands offer artificially sweetened versions. Other commonly used constituents are taurine, methylxanthines, vitamin B, ginseng, guarana, yerba mate, acai, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone, and ginkgo biloba.
Currently, significant concerns have been raised about the safety of these products. There have been several reports that showed adverse health effects associated with energy drink. Despite this, manufactures of energy drinks claim these products are suitable for consumers and that they are safe. In fact, the adverse health effects associated with energy drink remains controversial among scientists. There are limited comprehensive literature reviews that illustrate in detail the suitability and safety related to energy drink consumption, particularly among young adults. Here we review the available literature on the beneficial and adverse health effects related to energy drinks consumption.