December 6, 2005
NEWSWIRED: The buzz about drinks and unaware students
Partygoers mix them with vodka to party longer.
Students use them to get that extra boost of energy to stay awake through class and to study for finals.
These factors are just two of the reasons that energy drinks have supplanted water as the fastest growing commodity in the beverage business. But how safe are these drinks?
“I would say the sales of energy drinks account for about 20 to 30 percent of our sales,” said Meria Nocella, a High Health Manager.
It is not only health stores that carry these types of drinks.
“The growing popularity of these drinks is obvious. Most convenience stores carry a complete display section of these drinks,” said Barry Kirk, an AM/PM employee.
While the popularity of these drinks is clear, the potential harm these drinks could cause to students is not.
The amount of energy users get from these drinks varies about as much as the ingredients in these drinks do.
However, the most common ingredients are caffeine, sugar, taurine and B-vitamins.
Contrary to popular belief, caffeine is not an energy source.
Sugars are the only true source of energy in these drinks, according to Janet Striker, an associate professor of pharmacology and neuro-sciences at Baylor College.
There are several different types of sugars used in these drinks, all of which are simple and give an immediate boost of energy. The caffeine in these drinks primarily acts as a stimulant and gives users an immediate state of alertness.
That alertness does not come without a cost.
“Taking in excessive amounts of caffeine can lead to jitteriness, excessive heart rate, vomiting and lack of concentration,” said Wahida Karmally, the director at Columbia University’s Irving Center for Clinical Research.
“Excessive amounts of caffeine are hard to define because a person with a higher tolerance can handle more caffeine without the side effects,” Karmally said.
Amounts of caffeine in energy drinks vary, but most have about the same amount as a cup of coffee.
Caffeine and sugar are both linked to dehydration so when drinking energy drinks users need to take in plenty of water. When mixed with alcohol the dehydration affects are increased.
The other ingredients effects are debatable.
Taurine, for example, is believed to help aid in the digestion and absorption of foods and beverages. However, taurine, which is an amino acid, is produced in the human body and there is no reason for it to be in these drinks, according to Striker.
The B-vitamins are believed to contribute to the energy spike by increasing the rate at which the sugars are metabolized. One type of B-vitamin most of these drinks include is niacin, which helps in the absorption of nutrients, according to Nocella. Most of these drinks come with warning labels on them advising consumers of the recommended daily intake.
Red Bull for example recommends consumers intake no more than three cans a day. However, some of the more powerful energy drinks have stiffer warnings.
Redline, a popular energy drink comes in an eight bottle oz. and consumers are recommended not to drink more than half a bottle at a time, according to Nocella.
The ingredient that makes Redline so much more powerful is called yohimbe. This ingredient causes an increase in blood pressure and gives consumers a dizzy feeling, according to Nocella. The more potent energy drinks are found in health stores and the milder versions are found in convenience stores, according to Nocella.
While no potential harmful affects have been medically linked to energy drinks, consumers should be careful with consumption and heed the warnings on cans. Caffeine can stay in a person’s system from four to 100 hours after consumption, according to Striker.
“Consumers of these drinks should not drink them before they go to sleep and may need to try several different brands to find the one which gives them the energy level they desire,” Nocella said.
Volume 43, Issue 7. Today is
