According to commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association published online on January 25, 2011, experts caution consumers that there are serious downsides to non-alcoholic energy drinks.
Energy Drinks Contain High Levels of Caffeine Consumed Quickly
According to Amelia Arria, PhD and Mary Claire O'Brien, MD, non-alcoholic highly caffeinated energy drinks pose several risks to consumers. One of the most significant problems is the high levels of caffeine found in energy drinks as compared to other caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea.
Energy drinks can have anywhere from 50-500mg of caffeine, as compared to about 100mg of caffeine in a 6 ounce cup of drip coffee. Even a 12 ounce can of cola only has about 50mg of caffeine in comparison. Authors Arria and OBrien state that even though some of the caffeine levels in coffee can rival those found in some energy drinks, how they are consumed makes a difference. Energy drinks are consumed as a "shot" in 1-2 ounce portions, while coffee is hot so it must be sipped slowly.
Health Risks for Pregnant Women and Adolescents from Non-alcoholic Energy Drinks
Caffeine itself presents a number of possible health risks, according to the JAMA report. Some of the health problems caused by caffeine for adolescents include increasing blood pressure and sleep problems. In pregnancy, research shows that caffeine contributes to late term miscarriage, stillbirth and small-for-gestational-age newborns.
Mixing Energy Drinks with Alcohol
Another concern is the practice of mixing energy drinks with alcoholic beverages. Authors state that mixing the two beverages "has been linked consistently to drinking high volumes of alcohol per drinking session and subsequent serious alcohol-related consequences such as sexual assault and driving while intoxicated."
Rather than counteracting the effects of alcohol, energy drinks can make it harder for a person to judge the effects of the alcohol or how it impairs their actions and decision-making. "The state of being less likely to accurately appraise the true level of impairment has been labeled “wide-awake drunkenness” and can lead to engaging in risky behavior, " explain Arria and O'Brien.
Could Energy Drinks Increase Risk for Addictions?
There is some speculation that energy drink usage may be associated with both alcohol dependence and nonmedical prescription drug use. While authors state that more research on energy drinks and substance abuse is needed, they recommend that the NIH place caffeine limits on these beverages. They also insist that energy drinks include product labels with specific caffeine levels and warnings of the health risks for adolescents and pregnant women.
Brenda Lane - Brenda Lane is a published author, Lamaze certified childbirth educator, DONA certified birth doula and approved birth doula trainer.
Join the Conversation