Prevalence and Amounts of Common Ingredients Found in Energy Drinks and Shots

Background: Energy drinks are one of the most popular packaged beverage products consumed within the United States (US). Energy drinks are considered a functional beverage, a category that also includes sports drinks and nutraceutical beverages. Purpose: The focus of the current study was to examine the nutrition fact panels of the top selling commercially available energy drink and energy shot products within the US to characterize common ingredient profiles to help establish a standard definition and ingredient profile of energy drinks and energy shots for consumers, health care practitioners, and researchers. Methods: The top 75 commercially available energy drinks and shots were identified and compiled from multiple commercial retail websites as of September 2021. For the purpose of this study, an energy drink must have met the following criteria: (A) marketed as an energy drink; (B) purported to improve energy, focus, or alertness; (C) not sold as a dietary supplement (no supplement fact panels); (D) manufactured as a pre-packaged and ready-to-drink beverage; and (E) contains at least three of (1) caffeine, (2) B-vitamins, (3) sugar, (4) taurine, (5) creatine, (6) quercetin, (7) guarana, (8) ginseng, (9) coenzyme Q10, or (10) branched chain amino acids. Energy shots must have met similar criteria to be included: (A) marketed as an energy shot; (B) purported to improve energy, focus, or alertness; (C) sold as a dietary supplement; (D) manufactured as a pre-packaged beverage with a small volume (<3.5 mL); and (E) contains at least three of the ingredients stated above. Results: Twenty energy shots and fifty-five energy drinks were included in this analysis. The number of ingredients per product (mean ± SD) was 18.2 ± 5.7, with 15 products containing proprietary blends with undisclosed ingredient amounts. The relative prevalence and average amounts of the top ingredients were as follows: caffeine (100%; 174.4 ± 81.1 mg), vitamin B6 (72%; 366.9 ± 648.1 percent daily value (%DV)), vitamin B3 (67%; 121.44 ± 69.9% DV), vitamin B12 (67%; 5244.5 ± 10,474.6% DV), vitamin B5 (37.3%; 113.6 ± 76.6% DV), and taurine (37.3%; amounts undisclosed). Conclusions: Our findings suggest a high prevalence of caffeine and B-vitamins in these energy products, with many of the formulations containing well above the recommended daily value of B-vitamins.

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Increased static postural sway after energy drink consumption: A randomized trial

F1000Research ◽

10.12688/f1000research.12565.1 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 2036

Author(s):

Martin G. Rosario ◽

Henry Collazo ◽

Milagros Mateo ◽

Maryví Gonzalez-Sola ◽

Flavia Bayron

Keyword(s):

Postural Control ◽

Postural Sway ◽

Center Of Pressure ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

The United States ◽

General Tendency ◽

Postural Perturbation ◽

Eyes Closed ◽

The Central Nervous System

Background: Energy drinks consumption continues to grow since its appearance in the United States in 1997. Available evidence indicates that caffeine, their main ingredient, can alter the central nervous system (CNS). However, it is unknown how energy drinks alter the CNS postural control mechanism. The purpose of this study was to investigate how energy drinks can affect postural control after sensory perturbations during stance. Methods: 20 healthy adults, (11 males; 9 females) averaging 26.1 years of age, stood on a MatScan™ pressure mat, which measured center of pressure (CoP), anteroposterior (AP) and mediolateral (ML) postural sways during eight different balance tests (BALT’s). BALT's were designed to alter or cancel the systems involved in postural control: visual, vestibular and somatosensory. Subjects were randomly assigned to a caffeine group and an energy drink group. MANOVA analysis was performed for all variables of interest. Results: In the caffeine group, the AP sway of the Eyes Closed test on a stable surface was statistically significant. In the energy drinks group, we observed a general tendency of participants to increase CoP slightly, AP and ML sway in most of the BALT’s after the consumption of an energy drink. However, this increase was not statistically significant. These results suggest that in healthy young adults, the sensory re-weighting mechanism can overcome postural perturbation and maintain overall postural control. Conclusions: We observed an overall tendency to increase postural instability after the ingestion of energy drinks.

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Implications of energy drink consumption for hepatic structural and functional changes: a review

Nutrition & Food Science ◽

10.1108/nfs-08-2019-0260 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 50 (5) ◽

pp. 937-953

Author(s):

Sergey Kutia ◽

Maxim Kriventsov ◽

Gennady Moroz ◽

Elvina Gafarova ◽

Nazar Trofimov

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Structure And Function ◽

Vitamin B3 ◽

Content Type ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Target Organs ◽

Energy Drink Consumption ◽

And Function

Purpose In the recent decades, energy drinks consumption has increased dramatically. Many researches found their adverse effects on the structure and function of organs and systems, with nervous and cardiovascular systems most studied. Liver is one of the priority target organs in case of beverages consumption. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of energy drink consumption on morphofunctional conditions of liver. Design/methodology/approach A search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and eLIBRARY.ru databases was performed using relevant keywords. Findings Both clinical and experimental data concerning effects of energy drink use on structure and function of liver are summarized and systematized in this review. Most of them documented hepatotoxicity after prolonged over-consumption of energy drinks. Probable mechanisms of action of their basic ingredients (sugars, caffeine, taurine, D-glucuronolactone, vitamin B3) on morphology and functioning of liver as well as combined use of energy drinks with alcohol are described. Originality value This review paper represents evidential information about the negative impact of energy drink consumption on morphofunctional conditions of liver.

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Cardiovascular and Autonomic Responses to Energy Drinks—Clinical Implications

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm9020431 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 431 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Kiran R. Somers ◽

Anna Svatikova

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

The United States ◽

Clinical Implications ◽

Limited Data ◽

Energy Drink Consumption ◽

The Military ◽

Long Term Studies

There is an increasing consumption of energy drinks both in the United States and worldwide. The components of these beverages are sometimes unclear but commonly include caffeine, sugars, taurine, and B-vitamins. Young people, particularly those engaged in sports, studying, and in the military are especially likely to be consumers of energy drinks. While limited data are available regarding their autonomic and hemodynamic effects, current literature suggests that energy drink consumption is accompanied by increases in blood pressure, sympathetic drive, and also in QT prolongation. There are no systematic long term studies identifying consequences of frequent energy drink consumption. However, multiple anecdotal reports implicate energy drinks in adverse cardiovascular events including atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and sudden death. Events such as atrial fibrillation may even occur in otherwise healthy subjects with structurally normal hearts. It is likely that these cardiovascular outcomes are triggered by the hemodynamic, autonomic, and electrocardiographic responses to energy drink consumption. What remains unclear is how concomitant use of other stimulants such as amphetamines and nicotine may interact to potentiate neural and circulatory responses and cardiovascular consequences when combined with energy drinks.

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Energy Drink Consumption and its Relationship to Risky Behavior in College Students

Californian Journal of Health Promotion ◽

10.32398/cjhp.v13i1.1812 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 38-48

Author(s):

Julia Buchanan ◽

Melinda Ickes

Keyword(s):

College Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Risky Behaviors ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

The United States ◽

Convenience Sample ◽

Energy Drink Consumption ◽

Academic Courses ◽

E Mail

Background and Purpose: Energy drinks have become popular among college students, with over half reporting consumption of at least one energy drink per month in the current semester. Risk of negative physiological and psychological effects has been linked to energy drinks consumed alone or mixed with alcohol. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between energy drink consumption and other risky behaviors among college students at a large southeastern university in the United States. Method: A convenience sample of 277 college students was recruited during January-February 2012 via e-mail through undergraduate academic courses. Participating students completed an online survey that assessed energy drink consumption (with and without alcohol) and participation in other risky behaviors. Results: Energy drink users participated in risky behaviors more often than non-energy drink users within the past year (p = 0.00). Energy drink use was significantly related to the risky behaviors of tobacco (p = 0.00), marijuana (p = 0.00), amphetamine (p = 0.00), and alcohol (p = 0.02) use, as well as missing class (p = 0.05), performing poorly on a test or important project (p = 0.05), and participating in an extreme sport (p = 0.03). Conclusion: These findings suggest that energy drink consumption is associated with other risky behaviors among college students. The benefits of health promotion efforts related to energy drink consumption may be furthered through co-occurrence with other education and prevention programming on the topics of substance use and abuse.

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Consumption of Energy Drinks and Their Effects on Sleep Quality among Students at the Copperbelt University School of Medicine in Zambia

Sleep Disorders ◽

10.1155/2019/3434507 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Richard Kalima Mwape ◽

David Mulenga

Keyword(s):

Sleep Quality ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

The United States ◽

P Value ◽

Poor Sleep ◽

Poor Sleep Quality ◽

School Of Medicine ◽

Energy Drink Consumption

Background. Good sleep quality is cardinal to good health, and research has shown that it plays a fundamental role in immunity, learning, metabolism, and other biological functions. Energy drink consumption is a popular practice among college students in the United States. There has been little research done on the consumption of energy drinks and its effects in Zambian universities. The main objective was to determine the effects of energy drinks on sleep quality among students at the Copperbelt University School of Medicine. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 195 undergraduate students at the Copperbelt University School of Medicine in their second- and third-year of study. Energy drink consumption and sleep quality were assessed by univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. 157 students were enrolled into the study. The prevalence of energy drink consumption was 27.4% among participants. Studying for an exam was the most common reason for drinking energy drinks (83.7% of energy drink users). The majority of participants were found to be have poor sleep quality (59.6%). There was a statistically significant association between energy drink consumption and poor sleep quality (p value < 0.01). The findings of our study show that energy drink consumption is not a common practice in the Zambian university setting as the prevalence was 27.4%. Furthermore, the prevalence of poor sleep quality among Zambian university students is high and is significantly associated with energy drink consumption, and there is a need to better understand the patterns of energy drink use as well as their effects on various aspects of health including sleep quality in the Zambian setting. Further research should assess the knowledge of nonmedical students on the effects of energy drinks.

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Dietary Supplement Use Among Adult Cancer Survivors in the United States

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3373858 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Mengxi Du ◽

Jeffrey B. Blumberg ◽

Zhilei Shan ◽

Gail Rogers ◽

Fan Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cancer Survivors ◽

Dietary Supplement ◽

The United States ◽

Supplement Use ◽

Adult Cancer Survivors ◽

Dietary Supplement Use

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Risk-Taking Behavior and the Consumption of Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink among Australian, Dutch and UK Students

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18105315 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (10) ◽

pp. 5315

Author(s):

Sean J. Johnson ◽

Sarah Benson ◽

Andrew Scholey ◽

Chris Alford ◽

Joris C. Verster

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Consumption ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Positive Relationship ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Energy Drink Consumption ◽

Risk Taking Behavior ◽

The Relationship ◽

Level Of Risk

The relationship between risk-taking behavior, alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences is well known. The current analyses were conducted to investigate whether alcohol mixed with energy drink (AMED) is related to risk-taking behavior and if there is a relationship between the amount of energy drink mixed with alcohol consumed, risk-taking behavior and negative alcohol-related consequences. Data from N = 1276 AMED consuming students from the Netherlands, UK and Australia who completed the same survey were evaluated. The analysis revealed that, compared to AMED occasions, on alcohol only (AO) occasions significantly more alcohol was consumed and significantly more negative alcohol-related consequences were reported. On both AO and AMED occasions, there was a strong and positive relationship between amount of alcohol consumed, level of risk-taking behavior and number of reported negative alcohol-related consequences. In contrast, the level of risk-taking behavior was not clearly related to energy drink consumption. Across risk-taking levels, differences in the amount of energy drink consumed on AMED occasions did not exceed one 250 mL serving of energy drink. When correcting for the amount of alcohol consumed, there were no statistically significant differences in the number of energy drinks consumed on AMED occasions between the risk-taking groups. In conclusion, alcohol consumption is clearly related to risk-taking behavior and experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences. In contrast, energy drink intake was not related to level of risk-taking behavior and only weakly related to the number of experienced negative alcohol-related consequences.

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(Mis)Information on Digital Platforms: Lessons from Twitter and Sina Weibo in the COVID-19 Pandemic (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.31793 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sarah Kreps

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Public Discourse ◽

The United States ◽

World Health ◽

Sina Weibo ◽

Digital Platforms ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Relative Prevalence

BACKGROUND Misinformation about COVID-19 has presented challenges to public health authorities during pandemics. Understanding the prevalence and type of misinformation across contexts offers a way to understand the discourse around COVID-19 while informing potential countermeasures. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to study COVID-19 content on two prominent microblogging platform, Twitter, based in the United States, and Sina Weibo, based in China, and compare the content and relative prevalence of misinformation to better understand public discourse of public health issues across social media and cultural contexts. METHODS A total of 3,579,575 posts were scraped from both Weibo and Twitter, focusing on content from January 30th, 2020, when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” and February 6th, 2020. A 1% random sample of tweets that contained both the English keywords “coronavirus” and “covid-19” and the equivalent Chinese characters was extracted and analyzed based on changes in the frequencies of keywords and hashtags. Misinformation on each platform was compared by manually coding and comparing posts using the World Health Organization fact-check page to adjudicate accuracy of content. RESULTS Both platforms posted about the outbreak and transmission but posts on Sina Weibo were less likely to reference controversial topics such as the World Health Organization and death and more likely to cite themes of resisting, fighting, and cheering against the coronavirus. Misinformation constituted 1.1% of Twitter content and 0.3% of Weibo content. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative and qualitative analysis of content on both platforms points to cross-platform differences in public discourse surrounding the pandemic and informs potential countermeasures for online misinformation.

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Abstract 12689: Cardiovascular Responses to Energy Drinks in a Healthy Population: The C-energy Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.132.suppl_3.12689 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽

Author(s):

Teri M Kozik ◽

Mouchumi Bhattacharyya ◽

Teresa T Nguyen ◽

Therese F Connolly ◽

Walther Chien ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Systolic Blood Pressure ◽

Vital Signs ◽

Cardiovascular Responses ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Emergency Department Visits ◽

Qtc Interval ◽

Cardiac Responses ◽

Energy Drink Consumption

Introduction: Energy drinks are presumed to enhance energy, physical endurance, mood, and boost metabolism. Serious health risks have been reported with energy drink consumption such as myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, stroke, seizures, and arrhythmias. More than 20,000 emergency department visits related to energy drink consumption were reported in 2011. Little is known about the possible pathophysiological mechanisms and adverse events associated with energy drinks. Unlike the tobacco and alcohol industry, there are limited restrictions regulating the purchasing and marketing of these drinks. Purpose: To determine if consumption of energy drinks alter; vital signs (blood pressure, temperature), electrolytes (magnesium, potassium, calcium), activated bleeding time (ACT), or cardiac responses measured with a 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter. Method: Subjects consumed two-16 ounce cans of an energy drink within one hour and remained in the lab where data was collected at base line (BL) and then during four hours post consumption (PC). Vital signs were taken every 30 minutes; blood samples were collected at BL, one, two and four hours PC and ECG data was collected throughout the entire study period. Paired students t-test and a corresponding non-parametric test (Wilcoxon signed rank) were used for analysis of the data. Results: Fourteen healthy young subjects were recruited (mean age 28.6 years). Systolic blood pressure (BL=132, ±7.83; PC= 151, ±11.21; p=.001); QTc interval (BL=423, ±22.74; PC=503, ±24.56; p<.001); magnesium level (BL 2.04, ± 0.09; PC=2.13, ±0.15; p=.05); and calcium level (BL=9.31, ±.28; PC=9.52, ±.22; p=.018) significantly increased from BL. While potassium and ACT fluctuated (increase and decrease) no significant changes were observed. Eight of the fourteen subjects (57%) developed a QTc >500 milliseconds PC. Conclusions: In our sample, consumption of energy drinks increased systolic blood pressure, serum magnesium and calcium, and resulted in repolarization abnormalities. Because these physiological responses can lead to arrhythmias and other abnormal cardiac responses, further study in a larger sample is needed to determine the effects and possible consequences of energy drink consumption.

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