Energy drinks are a type of beverage containing stimulants, usually including caffeine, that are intended to provide a temporary increase in energy and improve physical or mental performance. In addition to caffeine, such beverages may include sugar and other sweeteners, amino acids such as taurine, B vitamins, and herbal extracts including guarana and ginseng.
Energy drinks are popular among youth and adults who are looking for an energy boost for school, work, sports training, or prolonged driving. However, despite their popularity, there are concerns about the potential health harms associated with excessive consumption of these drinks, including cardiovascular problems, nervous system problems, and the possibility of developing an addiction to caffeine.
In addition to caffeine, which is the main stimulant, energy drinks can contain significant amounts of sugar, which also raises concerns about their impact on overall health, including the risk of diabetes and obesity.
Research continues to examine the long-term effects of energy drink consumption on human health, and consumers are advised to approach their consumption with caution, especially in large quantities.
From January 2023, a law came into force in Russia, according to which the sale of energy drinks is allowed only to those who have reached the age of 18. This decision was made in order to protect the health of young people and prevent possible negative consequences from drinking these drinks.
History of energy drinks
The history of energy drinks begins long before the modern brands and formulas we are familiar with today. The concept of stimulating beverages that increase energy and alertness has existed in various cultures for centuries, from traditional teas and coffees to more complex elixirs.
Early history
- Ancient civilizations such as the Chinese and Mayans used tea and chocolate respectively for energy.
- The 19th century saw the first commercial "energy" drinks, often containing caffeine or cocaine, such as Mariani wines.
Modern era
- 1960s: In Japan, a drink called Lipovitan D was launched to combat fatigue and improve performance. It contained a mixture of B vitamins, taurine and other ingredients. It is considered one of the first modern energy drinks.
- 1980s: Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian entrepreneur inspired by Asian stimulant drinks, created Red Bull. Red Bull was first launched in Austria in 1987 and was the forerunner of the global energy drink boom. With its introduction, an era of rapid growth and innovation in the energy drink industry began.
- 1990s: The emergence and growth of energy drinks in Europe and North America. Drinks such as Monster Energy and Rockstar began to compete in the marketplace, offering a variety of flavors and marketing aimed at youth, athletes, and people with active lifestyles.
- 2000s onwards: The energy drink market continues to grow, including the emergence of low-sugar drinks, calorie-free options and drinks targeted at specific demographic groups. There is also an emerging debate about consumer safety and health, leading to increased regulation in some countries.
The history of energy drinks reflects changes in public preferences, marketing strategies and scientific understanding of the effects of stimulants on the human body. With the growing popularity of energy drinks, the debate about their health effects, especially among young people, and the need for additional research and regulation continues.
Effects of energy drinks on the body
Research shows that energy drink consumption can have both positive and negative effects on human health, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults. Here are some key findings from current research:
- Youth consumption: Energy drinks are consumed by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. They often contain high and unregulated amounts of caffeine and are associated with serious side effects, especially in individuals with seizures, diabetes, cardiac abnormalities, or mood and behavior disorders (Seifert et al., 2011).
- Negative Health Effects: Existing evidence links energy drink consumption to a number of negative health effects such as risky behaviors, poor mental health, negative cardiovascular effects, and metabolic, renal, or dental problems (Al-Shaar et al., 2017).
- Consumption and adolescent health: Energy drink use is associated with increased blood pressure and heart rate, as well as increased risk of diabetes and other diseases. Research shows the need to further investigate the long-term health effects of energy drink consumption, especially among youth (Breda et al., 2014).
- Regulation and Recommendations: In light of the increased consumption of energy drinks and related health concerns, there is an emerging need for improved toxicity surveillance and regulation of energy drink sales and consumption based on appropriate research.
Overall, research evidence points to potential health risks associated with energy drink consumption, particularly among young people. More qualitative research is needed to understand the long-term consequences and to develop effective strategies to reduce potential risks.
Benefits of energy drinks
Energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular among adolescents, young adults and athletes due to their claimed ability to boost energy levels, improve mood, increase physical endurance, reduce mental fatigue and increase reaction time. However, the mechanisms of action of many of these effects remain poorly understood and there are concerns about their safety due to poor regulation of the energy drink market. Most energy drinks contain caffeine, taurine, herbal extracts and vitamins. Studies show that energy drink formulas, in addition to increasing energy utilization, may also improve mood and physical stamina, reduce mental fatigue, and increase reaction speed. However, most of these effects can be attributed to the caffeine and/or carbohydrate content of the drinks, and additional well-designed studies are needed to evaluate the health claims of these products.
There is evidence that consuming energy drinks before exercise can improve endurance. One study found that consuming a commercially available energy drink before exercise can improve endurance, and this improvement may be partly the result of an increase in effort without a concomitant increase in perceived exertion.
However, the use of energy drinks is also associated with some undesirable side effects, including potential cardiotoxicity and the possibility of caffeine dependence, especially in young people. Energy drinks may increase endurance and improve physical performance, but their health effects, especially with long-term use, require further investigation.
Harms of energy drinks
Energy drinks can be harmful when consumed in excess or when consumed in inappropriate situations. Here are a few potential negative effects:
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease: Energy drinks often contain high levels of caffeine and other stimulants, which can lead to high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and even arrhythmias.
- Increased risk of neurological problems: High doses of caffeine can cause nervousness, anxiety, insomnia and headaches. Consuming large amounts of energy drinks can exacerbate these effects.
- Digestive problems: Energy drinks can contain high amounts of sugar and artificial additives, which can lead to digestive problems and excess weight.
- Dependence and risk of addiction: Constant use of energy drinks can lead to dependence on caffeine and other stimulants.
- Interaction with other substances: Using energy drinks together with alcohol or other drugs can be particularly dangerous and can lead to unpredictable consequences.
- Negative effects on liver health: Some energy drinks contain high doses of vitamins and amino acids, which can cause liver problems if consumed over a long period of time.
It is recommended to consume energy drinks with caution and in moderation, or better yet, avoid them altogether, especially if you have any medical problems or sensitivity to caffeine. It is important to monitor your own health and know your limits.
The action of an energy drink
The effect of an energy drink depends largely on its composition, primarily on its caffeine content, as well as on the individual characteristics of the human body, including body weight, level of tolerance to caffeine and general health.
Effects of caffeine
The main stimulant in most energy drinks is caffeine. Caffeine begins to take effect about 15 to 30 minutes after consumption and can remain effective for 3 to 6 hours, depending on dosage and individual sensitivity.
The half-life of caffeine
The half-life of caffeine in the body (the time it takes for the concentration of caffeine in the blood to halve) is about 3-5 hours in adults, but may increase in pregnant women, people with certain medical conditions, or those taking certain medications.
Individual factors
The effects of energy drinks can also depend on factors such as:
- Fatigue level: The morefatigued a person is, the more noticeable the stimulating effect can be.
- Caffeine Tolerance: People who regularly consume caffeinated beverages may notice a decrease in the effectiveness of energy drinks due to the development of tolerance.
- Digestion and Metabolism: Metabolic rate and current stomach contents may affect the rate of absorption of caffeine and other active ingredients.
It's important to remember
Consuming energy drinks in large quantities or too frequently can lead to side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, palpitations and other cardiovascular problems. It is recommended to consume energy drinks in moderation and avoid frequent use, especially late in the day, to avoid sleep disturbances.
Is it possible to die from energy drinks?
Studies indicate that consumption of energy drinks can lead to serious negative health consequences, including fatalities, especially when consumed in excess or in combination with exercise or alcohol:
- One study reports a case of a young man dying after excessive consumption of an energy drink that resulted in ventricular tachycardia (Avci, Sarıkaya, & Büyükçam, 2013).
- Energy drink consumption has been associated with increased emergency department visits and deaths. A study showed that energy drinks significantly prolong the QTc interval and increase blood pressure (Shah et al., 2019).
- Risk analyses have shown that energy drinks can contribute to ventricular arrhythmias in sensitive heart models, confirming an increased risk of sudden cardiac death due to energy drink consumption (Ellermann et al., 2022).
CONCLUSION: Although not every incident of energy drink consumption will result in death, there is a documented risk of serious cardiovascular complications, including death, especially with excessive consumption. It is important to recognize the potential risks and approach energy drink consumption with caution.
Which is more harmful: coffee or energy drink?
By comparing the health effects of coffee and energy drinks, different aspects of their effects can be seen. Energy drinks containing caffeine, taurine and high amounts of carbohydrates may increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, metabolic and gastroenterological diseases, and psychiatric disorders (Kawałko et al., 2022). More than 50% of young people consuming energy drinks reported adverse effects including palpitations, insomnia, headache, nausea and vomiting, significantly higher compared to coffee consumption (Hammond et al., 2018).
On the other hand, studies of coffee show its potential health benefits, including positive effects on energy balance and nutritional status, as well as possible protection against certain diseases. For example, a study examining the effects of coffee on appetite, energy intake, gastric emptying rate, and blood glucose levels found no significant differences between different trials, indicating that coffee has no negative effects on these parameters (Schubert et al., 2014).
It is important to note that coffee contains caffeine and other bioactive compounds that may have stimulating effects on the central nervous system and improve long-term memory, whereas excessive consumption of energy drinks is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects, especially among children and adolescents (Mejia & Ramírez-Mares, 2014).
In view of the above, it can be concluded that, when consumed in moderation, coffee may have less negative health effects than energy drinks, especially considering the potential risks associated with the latter. However, it is important to remember the need for moderation and individual sensitivity to the components of both beverages.
A lethal dose of energy drinks
Studies on the lethal dose of energy drinks indicate a focus on the effects of caffeine, as it is one of the main active ingredients in most energy drinks. One study indicated that for adults, the lethal blood concentration of caffeine is at least 80 mcg/mL, although the exact lethal dose for children is unknown. In this case, a 15-year-old girl took a large dose of an over-the-counter antifever analgesic containing caffeine in a suicide attempt, resulting in caffeine intoxication. Although the blood caffeine concentration was higher than the lethal adult dose, the patient recovered after simple treatment with intravenous administration of extracellular fluid (Horikawa, Yatsuga, & Okamatsu, 2021).
Determining the exact "lethal dose" of energy drinks is difficult due to differences in the caffeine content of the drinks and individual sensitivity to caffeine. It is important to remember that in addition to caffeine, energy drinks may contain other stimulants such as taurine and guarana, which can also affect health when consumed in excess.
It is important to approach the consumption of energy drinks with caution, especially avoiding excessive consumption and mixing them with alcohol, which can increase the risk of negative health effects, including cardiovascular problems and possible death.
Which energy drink is the safest?
Determining the safest energy drink can be difficult because the safety of any product, including energy drinks, depends on many factors, including individual sensitivity to the ingredients in the drink (e.g., caffeine), the amount consumed, the presence of diseases or health conditions that can be exacerbated by energy drink consumption (e.g., cardiovascular disease), and co-use with alcohol or drugs.
The safety of energy drinks is usually assessed by their caffeine content, as this is the most active ingredient that can cause unwanted effects. Beverages that are low in caffeine and free of harmful additives such as high doses of sugar, taurine, guarana and other stimulants may be considered safer options. However, keep in mind that even natural ingredients in large quantities can pose health risks.
To minimize the risk of adverse effects, it is recommended that:
- Avoid excessive consumption of energy drinks.
- Pay attention to the composition of the product, preferring drinks with a transparent list of ingredients and moderate caffeine content.
- Avoid consuming energy drinks in combination with alcohol or before physical activity.
- Consider personal health factors such as pregnancy, age, presence of chronic illness.
