Energy drinks have been popular for years, and the market
keeps expanding. Some people drink them like they would soda -- during
breakfast, lunch, dinner and as snacks. But there is such a thing
as too much energy. A study published today in the journal Drug and
Alcohol Dependence delivers a stern warning about the possibility
of caffeine intoxication from energy drinks.
"The caffeine content of energy drinks varies over
a 10-fold range, with some containing the equivalent of 14 cans of
Coca-Cola, yet the caffeine amounts are unlabeled and few include
warnings about potential health risks of caffeine intoxication,"
said one of the study's authors, Roland Griffiths of Johns Hopkins
Medical Institutions.
A regular 12-ounce cola drink has about 35 milligrams
of caffeine. A 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee has 80 to 150 milligrams
of caffeine. The Food and Drug Administration imposes limits on how
much caffeine food products can contain (71 milligrams for each 12-ounce
can). But energy drinks are designated as dietary supplements, not
food products. Thus, manufacturers of energy drinks can load their
products with caffeine. Moreover, says Chad Reissig, another of the
study's authors: "It's notable that over-the-counter caffeine-containing
products require warning labels, yet energy drinks do not."
Caffeine intoxication is a recognized clinical syndrome.
It is described as nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal
upset, tremors, rapid heartbeat, restlessness and pacing. In rare
cases, caffeine intoxication can cause death. See this Mayo Clinic
report on caffeine side effects and this L.A. Times story on energy
drinks that was written by a doctor.
The authors of the study have called for labeling on
energy drinks to inform consumers of what they are getting. Advertising
for energy drinks is aimed at teens and young adults and promotes
the drinks as performance enhancers. Recently, however, some manufacturers
have applied a harder edge to their marketing. One product is named
Cocaine, and another product, a powdered energy drink sold in a vial,
is named Blow. The makers of both products have received warning letters
from the FDA about misleading advertising.
But occasional hand-slaps from the FDA are not enough.
Besides caffeine intoxication, the use of energy drinks along with
alcohol can be dangerous, the Johns Hopkins researchers say. A recent
survey found that 27% of college students said they had mixed energy
drinks and alcohol at least once a month. There is even some evidence,
says Griffiths, that energy drinks may serve as a "gateway"
product leading to more serious drug abuse.
- Shari Roan
This article appeared in Los Angelas Times (latimes.com)
blog, September 24, 2008
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