Energy drinks The risky caffeine kick

Health risk of excessive consumption of energy drinks

07/10/2013

Energy drinks have been enjoying increasing popularity for years and are being launched in ever new variations. The Stiftung Warentest had therefore already end of July in a comprehensive investigation, the supposedly performance-enhancing fashion drinks dedicated and the energy drinks issued a little pleasing testimonial. Despite promising sounding names and ingredients, the drinks showed no demonstrable performance enhancing effects that would go beyond the effects of caffeine and sugar, and „Those who drink energy cans of doses, harms the health“, as the result of the Stiftung Warentest.

Many consumers expect, according to the Stiftung Warentest of the energy drinks „more perseverance for party nights“ and „more top performance in sports“. Especially among young people, the energy drinks are extremely popular. So did the manufacturer Red Bull last year „5.2 billion cans of its gummy bear shower sold worldwide“, reports the Stiftung Warentest. Also from international brands such as Coca Cola and Pepsi now corresponding energy drinks were offered. According to Stiftung Warentest, sales growth is in the double-digit percentage range. No other soft drink „Turnover in 2012 as strong as energy drinks.“ The Stiftung Warentest has therefore taken a closer look at the power showers and thoroughly examined 24 energy drinks and a so-called energy shot in the laboratory.

Nervousness and heart problems as a side effect of energy drinks
According to the Stiftung Warentest, the energy drinks mainly advertise with their vital sounding names such as „Energy Rocket“, „Flying Power“ or „Speedstar“ as well as the exotic-looking ingredients such as taurine, inositol or glucuronolactone. So far, however, there is no scientific evidence for it, „that only one of these ingredients is performance enhancing.“ The stimulating effect of energy drinks is rather due to two well-tried ingredients. Sugar, which serves as an energy source, and caffeine, which has a stimulating effect on cardiovascular functions. However, an excess of caffeine could be too „Side effects such as inner restlessness, nervousness, nausea, insomnia, tachycardia“ lead, explains the Stiftung Warentest. In the opinion of the tester is the risk „Caffeine overdose by energy drinks relatively high.“ Children, pregnant women, breastfeeding and caffeine sensitive people should avoid them due to the high caffeine content.

Maximum 320 milligrams of caffeine per liter allowed
It is only since June 2013 that the fruit juice and soft drinks regulation regulates what constitutes an energy drink in Germany, according to Stiftung Warentest. Accordingly, the energy drinks are defined as caffeine-containing soft drinks, which may contain a maximum of 320 milligrams of caffeine per liter. Maximum levels have been used for other commonly used ingredients since then, such as 4,000 milligrams for taurine, 200 milligrams for inositol or 2,400 milligrams per liter for glucuronolactone. In one of the tested energy drinks (at „High Performance Energy Drink NOS“), the maximum permissible limit for caffeine was clearly exceeded at 560 milligrams of caffeine per liter. The drink is now taken in this country, according to the manufacturer from the market. In addition, nine of the 24 energy drinks had taurine levels above the limit, but this was less critical for health and was still acceptable for those drinks that were produced before the cut-off date in June, Stiftung Warentest reports.

More than half of the young people consume energy drinks
Stiftung Warentest also referred to a study by the European Food Safety Authority (Efsa), which for the first time collected pan-European data on the consumption habits of energy drinks. In total, more than 52,000 people from 16 EU Member States were interviewed, and it turned out that one in three adults in Europe consumed energy drinks, „every tenth even four or five times a week or more“, reports the Stiftung Warentest. Particularly popular are the drinks in the 10- to 19-year-olds. Of these, 68 percent would regularly consume the power shower and one in ten of them a week. The testers rated as extremely critical that every second adult and teenager consumed the energy drinks together with alcohol. Also, almost as many would enjoy the artificial shower when exercising. „The misuse is therefore not the exception, but frightening rule“, so the assessment of the Stiftung Warentest. That even under 10-year-olds consume the energy drinks, although caffeine is not suitable for children, is extremely questionable. Here, there seems to be a need for more comprehensive legislation to avoid potential health risks to adolescents. (Fp)