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Credit- Wikipedia.
Over the past couple of years concerns have been raised over the consumption of so-called `energy drinks’, particularly among children and teenagers.
These drinks, which usually contain significant doses of caffeine and sugar, along with B vitamins, amino acids, and herbs like acai and Yerba Mate, are supposed to increase alertness and energy.
Some brands – which may only be legally sold to adults – contain 10%-12% alcohol.
Non-alcoholic versions are often used as `mixers’ for alcohol - a practice reportedly favored by college and teenage drinkers because the caffeine helps produce a `better buzz’.
The downside is, it can fool imbibers into believing they are sober when they are not, which can lead to even more drinking and risky behavior.
Last year these alcohol laced energy drinks came under heavy scrutiny when colleges and universities around the country began to report injuries and blackouts related to the drink's use.
The state of Washington banned an alcoholic energy drink called Four Loko after nine under-aged university students (aged 17 – 19) from Central Washington University fell ill at a house party and were hospitalized.
A number of colleges have recently banned these types of drinks from campus.
But even non-alcoholic energy beverages (EBs) have raised concerns.
Excessive consumption has been linked to increased heart rates, hypertension, exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms, and very rarely - sudden cardiac death (cite - Mayo Clinic Proceedings Oct 29, 2010 :Energy Beverages: Content and Safety).
The Mayo report, which recommends the consumption of no more than 1 can (500ml) of EBs a day, concludes:
Limited ingestion of EBs by healthy people is not likely to cause major adverse effects, but binge consumption or consumption with alcohol may lead to adverse events. Individuals with medical illnesses, especially underlying heart disease, should check with their physician before using EBs, because they may exacerbate their condition.
Today, from the American Academy of Pediatrics, we get a stronger warning via this cautionary report on the the dangers inherent in the use of `energy & sports’ drinks by children and teenagers.
The report – which is available online and for free – is called:
Clinical Report—Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks for Children and Adolescents: Are They Appropriate?
COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION AND THE COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS
The `money quote’ from the abstract reads:
Rigorous review and analysis of the literature reveal that caffeine and other stimulant substances contained in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents.
Furthermore, frequent or excessive intake of caloric sports drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity in children and adolescents.
This report offers the following clinical guidance to pediatricians:
CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: GUIDANCE FOR THE PEDIATRICIAN
Regarding consumption of sports and energy drinks by children and adolescents, the pediatrician is encouraged to:
● Improve the education of children and adolescents and their parents in the area of sports and energy drinks. This education must high-
light the difference between sports drinks and energy drinks and their associated potential
health risks.
● Understand that energy drinks pose potential health risks primarily because of stimulant con-
tent; therefore, they are not appropriate for children and adolescents and should never be consumed.
● Counsel that routine ingestion of carbohydrate-containing sports drinks by children and adolescents
should be avoided or restricted. Intake can lead to excessive caloric consumption and an increased risk
of overweight and obesity as well as dental erosion.
● Educate patients and families that sports drinks have a specific limited function for child and adolescent athletes. These drinks should be ingested when there is a need for more rapid replenishment of carbohydrates and/or electrolytes in combination with water during periods of prolonged, vigorous sports participation or other intense physical activity.
● Promote water, not sports or energy drinks, as the principal source of hydration for children and adolescents.
According to a Reuters report this weekend (Stay away from energy drinks, doctors say), the sale of non-alcoholic energy drinks will approach $9 billion dollars in the United States this year – with half of that sold to children and young adults.
A factoid that many parents are probably unaware of given that the use of these types of drinks appears to be a generational phenomenon.
Hopefully this report, and the resultant press coverage, will serve as impetus for parents to discuss the risks of consuming these types of beverages with their children.
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