Energy drinks contain high proportions of free sugars and have a very low pH; this has implications for oral and wider public health in terms of dental caries,1 dental erosion2 and obesity.3 These Conclusion Statement: Evidence on the effects of excessive caffeine intake on the health of adults or children (>400 mg/day for adults; undetermined for children and adolescents) is limited. Some evidence links high caffeine intake in the form of energy drinks to certain adverse outcomes, such as caffeine toxicity and cardiovascular events. Energy Drink Ingredients and Adolescent Energy Drink Consumption Rates. The additional ingredients often included in proprietary blends of energy drinks, typically including various B vitamins, herbal supplements, and certain amino acids, are purported to have or enhance the stimulatory effects of the caffeine and sugars. 7-10,12,14,15 A variety of B vitamins are included in the majority of The negative health effects associated with energy drinks (ED) are compounded by a lack of regulatory oversight and aggressive marketing by the industry toward adolescents. Moreover, the rising trend of mixing ED with alcohol presents a new challenge that researchers and public health practitioners must address further. The health risks associated with energy drinks are mostly attributed to their high sugar and caffeine levels. They range from risk-seeking behavior, such as substance misuse and aggression, mental health problems in the form of anxiety and stress, to increased blood pressure, obesity, kidney damage, fatigue, stomachaches and irritation. Companies advertise that energy drinks increase energy and enhance mental alertness, focus, hydration, physical performance, and health. Many people consume energy drinks for improved performance in academics or sports, but there is little research to support such beneficial effects. McClellan and Lieberman (2012) reviewed the most common ingredients, other than caffeine, which are found in the most popular energy drinks. They reported levels of the amino acid taurine between 750 and 1,000 mg per serving. Taurine is a non-essential amino acid, and the normal diet typically contains 40 to 400 mg per day ( Shao and Hathcock Energy Drinks and Performance. The caffeine contained in energy drinks has ergogenic potential, with doses of pure caffeine of 3-6 mg per kilogram of body weight associated with an increase in power and aerobic activity (e.g., split times) by approximately 4%. 14 However, the evidence for energy drinks as "performance-enhancing" is mixed. .

health effects of energy drinks