Evaluation of Some Energy Drinks
Evaluation of Some Energy Drinks
Mark Joseph A. Euste*, Grainor M. Palaroan, Amante T. Ama
Camarines Sur National High School
Engineering and Science Education Project
Peñafrancia Ave., Naga City
*Corresponding Author: mrkjsphst@yahoo.com
Abstract
Energy drinks are beverages which contain chemical constituents that are said to improve physical and mental performance. Most of them primarily contain varying amounts of caffeine, guarana, ginseng and taurine. This study aims to provide a critical review regarding the adverse effects of excessive daily intake of energy drinks. Five commercially available energy drinks were used as the subject of the study. The average consumption of a certain component was compared to the serving size included in each product. It was found out that the consumption of the ingredients more than the recommended amounts per day may cause physiological side effects. There is no medical use for energy drinks, however several ingredients in some of these drinks have been found to be helpful in the medical perspective.
Keyword(s): energy drinks
1. Introduction
In the past decades, the beverage industry paved the way to the rise of caffeinated energy drinks in the market. Back in early 1960s, it first appeared in Europe and Asia in response to the consumers’ demand for a dietary supplement that would result in increased energy (Reissig et al., 2009). Basically, energy drinks refer to beverages that contain mainly caffeine, alongside other active constituents which includes varying amounts of guarana extract, taurine, vitamins, amino acids and herbal extracts. These purportedly provide benefits such as increased mental alertness, physical endurance, performance and stamina (Simon and Mosher, 2007; Babu et al., 2008). Conversely, there is inadequate evidence that consumption of energy drinks can significantly improve both physical and mental performance (Scholey and Kennedy, 2004).
The wide availability and distribution of
Mark Joseph A. Euste*, Grainor M. Palaroan, Amante T. Ama
Camarines Sur National High School
Engineering and Science Education Project
Peñafrancia Ave., Naga City
*Corresponding Author: mrkjsphst@yahoo.com
Abstract
Energy drinks are beverages which contain chemical constituents that are said to improve physical and mental performance. Most of them primarily contain varying amounts of caffeine, guarana, ginseng and taurine. This study aims to provide a critical review regarding the adverse effects of excessive daily intake of energy drinks. Five commercially available energy drinks were used as the subject of the study. The average consumption of a certain component was compared to the serving size included in each product. It was found out that the consumption of the ingredients more than the recommended amounts per day may cause physiological side effects. There is no medical use for energy drinks, however several ingredients in some of these drinks have been found to be helpful in the medical perspective.
Keyword(s): energy drinks
1. Introduction
In the past decades, the beverage industry paved the way to the rise of caffeinated energy drinks in the market. Back in early 1960s, it first appeared in Europe and Asia in response to the consumers’ demand for a dietary supplement that would result in increased energy (Reissig et al., 2009). Basically, energy drinks refer to beverages that contain mainly caffeine, alongside other active constituents which includes varying amounts of guarana extract, taurine, vitamins, amino acids and herbal extracts. These purportedly provide benefits such as increased mental alertness, physical endurance, performance and stamina (Simon and Mosher, 2007; Babu et al., 2008). Conversely, there is inadequate evidence that consumption of energy drinks can significantly improve both physical and mental performance (Scholey and Kennedy, 2004).
The wide availability and distribution of
References: Reissig CJ, Strain EC, Griffiths RR. (2009), "Caffeinated energy drinks a growing problem. Drug Alcohol Depend", 99:1–10. Simon, M. & Mosher, J. Alcohol (2007), "Energy Drinks and Youth: A Dangerous Mix. Marin Institute: Alcohol Industry Watchdog". (Online); Available at: http://www.marininstitute.org/alcopops/resources/ EnergyDrinkReport.pdf. Babu, K. M., Church, R. J. & Lewander, W. “Energy drinks: the new eye-opener for adolescents,” Clin Ped Emerg Med, Vol. 9, 2008, p. 35-42. Health Canada. "Straight Facts about Drugs and Drug Abuse", Ottawa, ON, 2000. (Online); Available at: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hc-ps/alt_formats/hecs-sesc/pdf/pubs/adp-apd/straight_ facts-faits_mefaits/facts-faits-eng.pdf. Kohashi, N., Katori, R. “Decrease of urinary taurine in essential hypertension”. Prog. Clin. Bio. Med. 1983. 125, 73.