Energy Drinks... So What's in Them, Anyway?

Energy drinks are non-alcoholic, often lightly carbonated beverages that are designed to give the consumer a burst of energy. These drinks are commonly available in grocery stores, corner stores and gas stations, usually displayed alongside soft drinks, juices and sports drinks. Some of the brands that we have here in the local market are the following: Lipovitan, Red Bull, Sting, Cobra, Samurai and Extra Joss.

The advertisements usually do not emphasize energy derived from the sugar they contain but rather energy provided by a variety of stimulants, vitamins, and herbal supplements. These drinks generally contain methylxanthines (including caffeine), vitamin B, and herbs. Other commonly used ingredients are carbonated water, guarana (extracts from the guarana plant which also contains caffeine), yerba mate, acai, and taurine, ginseng, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, creatine, glucuronolactone, and ginkgo biloba. Some contain high levels of sugar, and many brands offer artificially sweetened 'diet' versions.

A variety of physiological and psychological effects have been attributed to energy drinks and their ingredients. Some reported significant improvements in mental and cognitive performances as well as increased subjective alertness. However, excess consumption of energy drinks may induce mild to moderate euphoria primarily caused by stimulant properties of caffeine, as well as agitation, anxiety, irritability and insomnia. Energy drinks do not provide electrolytes, and have a higher likelihood of an energy "crash-and-burn" effect. Caffeine in energy drinks can excrete water from the body cells to dilute high concentrations of sugar entering the blood stream, leading to dehydration.

These energy drinks are especially risky for children with heart abnormalities, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other emotional/ psychological or health problems, like seizures and diabetes, as noted in the journal, Pediatrics. The safe levels of energy drinks, which contain stimulants such as caffeine, taurine and guarana, have not been established for children and teens Although energy drinks contain caffeine in amounts similar to those in a few cups of coffee,energy drinks are consumed differently and faster and thus, may have a different effect especially on children and teens.