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Are Energy Drinks Good For You? Or is That All Hype? By Our January Student Pharmacist, Zach Rawn.

energy-drinks

Are energy drinks what they are cracked up to be?

The term energy drink is self explanatory, but is used to describe a large assortment of products. Some examples include: Redbull, Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy, and VitaminEnergy. Typically, these drinks include some sort of stimulant (ex. caffeine) and high doses of B vitamins. Some may include various assortments of natural products, proteins, or other vitamins and electrolytes.

How do these drinks provide energy?

The “energy” found in energy drinks typically comes from caffeine. On an energy drink label, the manufacturer will provide either the amount of caffeine or guarana per serving. Guarana is a plant originating from South America with seeds containing caffeine. Guarana seeds are actually more concentrated with caffeine than coffee beans on a pound for pound ratio. There is about 40 mg of caffeine in every one gram (or 1000 mg) of guarana. This becomes important when the two are mixed in one drink. You must add the caffeine from guarana plus the listed amount of caffeine on the packaging to determine the total amount of caffeine per serving.

Do B vitamins help to increase energy?

Generally, the answer is no. B vitamins are necessary for many bodily processes and for metabolism, but through a balanced diet the amount of B vitamins necessary is easily attainable. Some individuals (especially the elderly) may need B vitamin supplementation due to inadequacies breaking down and/or absorbing them from their diet or because of malnutrition. A simple blood draw carried out by a physician can determine if supplementation is actually necessary. The amounts of B vitamins found in energy drinks are typically greater than 100% of the amount necessary to supplement the diet without food even included. Generally, excess B vitamins are excreted in the urine, so much of them could be wasted anyway.

What are the roles of natural products in energy drinks?

The simple answer is, we aren’t sure. Natural products must be evaluated on a case by case basis. Many of the claims made about natural products are lacking scientific studies to prove efficacy. Many natural products have not been rigorously tested for safety or efficacy in the same manner that prescription medications have.

Are energy drinks safe?

In general, energy drink use in moderation is of little concern, but must be approached on a case by case basis. Read the label to determine what you are putting in your body. Determine the caffeine and guarana content per serving. For most healthy adults, less than 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally safe. Be wary of the claims made on the packaging, especially with regard to specific natural products. Once again, high doses of natural products lack human safety data. If you are concerned about vitamin deficiency, speak with your primary health care provider.

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Sources:

Can energy drinks really boost a person’s energy. MayoClinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/energy-drinks/faq-20058349. Published Feb 11 2015.

Energy Drinks. Pharmacist’s Letter. http://pharmacistsletter.therapeuticresearch.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/pl/ArticleDD.aspx?nidchk=1&cs=OSU~CEPDA&s=PL&pt=6&fpt=31&dd=270107&pb=PL&searchid=55060613. Published January 2011.

Rumor: B vitamins improve energy and relieve stress. http://pharmacistsletter.therapeuticresearch.com.proxy.lib.ohio-state.edu/pl/Rumor.aspx?cs=OSU~CEPDA&s=PL&fpt=31&rtid=367&searchid=55060642. Published January 20 2012.

 

 

 

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