There is a growing use of energy drinks in the US. Energy drink consumption has continued to gain in popularity since the 1997 debut of Red Bull, the current leader in the energy drink market. Common brands of energy drinks currently on the market include Monster Energy Drinks, Red Bull, Rockstar, and Full Throttle. Energy drinks contain mostly sugar and caffeine to increase energy and to help with concentration. Many young adults also use them in conjunction with alcohol (reduces the sensation of intoxication by offsetting alcohol’s sedating effects) and to treat hangovers. Athletes also commonly use energy drinks to improve endurance performance.
Energy drinks contain stimulants (such as caffeine, guarna and taurine), sugars or sweeteners, and other additives and are marketed to produce performance-enhancing effects such as increased endurance, concentration, reaction time, or improved mood.
It is important to note that energy drinks are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Caffeine is the only ingredient of energy drinks with some proven benefit for athletic performance, as the others have not been well studied. Caffeine improves endurance performance and time to fatigue, but has little effect on strength and power events. The dose that has proven to be beneficial is 250-500mg. However, the studies on energy drinks and caffeinated sports beverages are mixed with regard to athletic performance. This may be due to a dehydration effect with these drinks.
There is growing concern in the medical community about the increasing consumption of energy drinks. Most people do not monitor their intake of caffeine and too much caffeine can lead to difficulty sleeping, migraines, seizures, and heart problems. There have been reports of increasing visits to the emergency departments due to energy drinks. This has largely been due to ingestion of too much caffeine (excess of 500mg) and using energy drinks in conjunction with alcohol.
Due to the above concerns, the following recommendations can be made:
- 250-500mg/day of caffeine may increase performance in endurance events.
- Do not ingest more than 500mg of caffeine/day (4-6 energy drinks). (This can lead to increased side effects.)
- Read the label of the drink you purchase. Know how much caffeine you are ingesting.
- Do not mix energy drink use with alcohol or other drugs (illegal or prescribed).
- Children (less than 18 years of age) should not use energy drinks (increased side effects in kids and we do not know the long term effects of use in children).
- Do not use if you are pregnant or nursing.
- Discontinue use if you develop nervousness, tremor, sleeplessness, loss of appetite, or nausea.
Finally, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor before you decide to use energy drinks. Even though these drinks are marketed as safe, caffeine is still a drug and can have serious consequences to your health.
About Dr. Michael Simpson
Michael R. Simpson, DO, specializes in family medicine and primary care sports medicine. Dr. Simpson is board certified in family medicine and sports medicine, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine. Prior to medical school, Dr. Simpson earned a master’s degree in exercise science from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C.