Health Issues Of Energy drinks
Health Issues Of Energy drinks
Energy
drinks have been implicated in a number of health-related concerns in recent
years. Their effects range from being a contributing factor in obesity to
exacerbating symptoms in manic phases in patients with bipolar disorder to
causing new-onset seizures. Examples of the potential negative impact of energy
drinks and their components on health are provided below.
Mixing
alcohol with energy drinks is an emerging trend in bars and dance clubs. Apart
from the dangerous effects this combination may have on cardiac function,
people who ingest large amounts of caffeine (a stimulant) along with large
amounts of alcohol (a depressant) may not realize the degree to which they are
intoxicated.
People
who consumed energy drinks with alcohol felt fewer symptoms such as headache,
weakness, and muscular coordination but were still impaired in terms of motor
coordination and visual reaction time. As many people may use the
physical symptoms they experience to gauge their sobriety, the danger is that
they may misinterpret their level of inebriation and attempt to drive a car or perform
other potentially hazardous activities.
Obesity
Worldwide
rates of obesity are increasing, and numerous factors contribute to this trend.
Lifestyle and diet changes are the most common culprits, but recent research
has proposed that the added sugar content of energy drinks and beverages may
play a considerable role in weight gain.
Some
energy-drink makers have made efforts to deal with this health issue by
reformulating their products (e.g., Red Bull Sugar Free) to reduce the glucose
or sugar content of the product.
Dental
health
A
concern exists that increased intake of acidic beverages, including carbonated
drinks and fruit juices, maybe associated with dental erosion. A study
evaluating the effects of beverages on extracted premolar teeth indicated that
immersion in Luco-zade (a caffeine-based energy drink) showed a 16% reduction
in enamel hardness after 30 minutes of immersion. Although this study
does not reflect “real-life” exposure of teeth to acidic beverages, it does
raise questions as to the overall effect of these drinks on teeth. A comparison
of extracted molars and premolars immersed in liquids for a 14-day period
showed that enamel dissolution from lemonade and energy drinks was much greater
compared with other beverages. These studies each evaluated extended
exposure and probably would not be a great concern for the average patient
consuming moderate quantities of energy drinks.
Cardiovascular
Effects
High doses of caffeine may exacerbate cardiac conditions
for which stimulants are contraindicated. Of particular concern are ion
channelopathies and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the most prevalent genetic
cardiomyopathy in children and young adults, because of the risk of
hypertension, syncope, arrhythmias, and sudden death.
Effects
on Bone Mineralization
Early
adolescence is the time of maximal calcium deposition in bone, and caffeine
interferes with intestinal calcium absorption. It remains controversial whether
caffeine itself has the most marked effect on bone acquisition during
adolescence or whether replacement of milk intake by caffeinated beverages is
the leading contributor.
Categories:
Health
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