The concern about the safety of energy drinks continue to
grow as the reported deaths potentially linked to consumption of 5-Hour Energy
Drink and Monster Energy Drink are released from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA). Additionally, the federal government and the New York
Attorney General’s office are investigating the claims.
To date there have been 13 reported deaths potentially linked
to 5-Hour Energy Drink and 33 reported hospitalizations with symptoms including
increased blood pressure and abnormal heart rate. Yet, the concerns are not isolated
to just 5-Hour Energy Drinks, there have been 5 reported deaths related to
Monster Energy drinks and 35 hospitalizations and 13 reported hospitalizations
related to Rockstar Energy Drink. It is important to note, the deaths and
hospitalizations are reported to the Center for Food Safety Adverse Event
Reporting System (CAERS) which is a surveillance system and some of the reported
information cannot be verified for accuracy.
When it comes to caffeine, the most widely consumed central
nervous system stimulant, some maybe okay and definitely, more is not better: Although health experts vary with the
recommended ‘safe’ amount of caffeine to consume, generally the equivalent of
one to two cups (8-ounce cups) of coffee which totals about 260 mg of caffeine,
is considered a safe daily amount to consume for adults.
Yet when it comes to energy drinks, coffee and teas, it can
be difficult to know exactly how much caffeine you are having. Plus with energy
drinks, they are not regulated as far as the contents of caffeine and the other
additives which often include b-vitamins, taurine and ginseng. For example, 2
fluid ounces of 5-Hour Energy Drink has 2000% (40 mg or 0.04 grams) of the
daily value for vitamin B6, which you are likely are getting other sources and
possibly other supplements.
Caffeine facts: Once caffeine is ingested it is
absorbed by the body quickly, after about 45-minutes you can feel the effects
of caffeine. In the body, caffeine is mainly processed by the liver and after
about five to seven hours, half of the caffeine is eliminated from the body.
This is important to note because if you have coffee in the morning and then
add in an energy drink in the afternoon, your body is still processing the
caffeine from your morning coffee and if you have no idea how much caffeine is
in what you are drinking you could quickly go over 260 mg of caffeine in a
hurry. The bottom-line, think twice before you reach for a jolt from an energy
drink and reevaluate your overall caffeine intake..
Know much
caffeine you are having: Check out caffeine content apps or Web sites to
use as a reference as to how much caffeine are in products you routinely reach
for. This can help you at least establish a baseline for how much you are
having from the various products you choose on a routine basis.
Starbucks Coffee (16
fl oz): 320 mg caffeine
5-hour energy (1.93
fl oz): 207 mg caffeine
Dunkin Donuts
regular (16 fl oz): 203 mg caffeine
Starbucks Latte (16
fl oz): 150 mg caffeine
Coffee, brewed (8 fl
oz): 133 mg caffeine
Red Bull Energy Shot
(2 fl oz): 80 mg caffeine
Red Bull (8 fl oz):
80 mg caffeine
Tea (8 fl oz): 53 mg
caffeine
Source: CSPI
Caffeine Chart http://www.cspinet.org/new/cafchart.htm
References:
FDA Report: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofFoods/CFSAN/CFSANFOIAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM328270.pdf
Caffeinated Drink Cited in Reports of 13 deaths: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/15/business/5-hour-energy-is-cited-in-13-death-reports.html?_r=1&
Caffeine and Heart Disease: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/HealthyDietGoals/Caffeine-and-Heart-Disease_UCM_305888_Article.jsp
Vitamin B-6 Fact Sheet: http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminB6-HealthProfessional/
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