Energy Drink Surprises

[alicia-w]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/DietNutrition/tb/2865

Most so-called energy drinks are loaded with caffeine far above the FDA limit set for carbonated colas such as Pepsi or Coke, researchers here reported.


Because caffeine content is not disclosed on the label, these products may pose a health threat to unsuspecting consumers who should limit their caffeine intake, such as those with hypertension, pregnant women, or those who suffer from anxiety attacks, said Bruce A. Goldberger, Ph.D., and colleagues at the University of Florida College of Medicine here.


Energy drinks -- with brand names such as Red Bull and SoBe No Fear -- are not included in the FDA regulation that limits caffeine in colas or sodas, Dr. Goldberger and colleagues said in the March issue of the Journal of Analytic Toxicology.


The investigators tested the caffeine content of 10 energy drinks, 19 colas or sodas, and seven cold-coffee and iced-tea drinks.


The good news is that for all colas or sodas tested caffeine content was well below the FDA limit of 65 mg for a 12-ounce serving. In this category of drinks, caffeine content ranged from 18 mg to 48 mg per 12-ounce serving.


The caffeine content of energy drinks, however, ranged from 33 mg to nearly 77 mg per serving, with the majority being above the FDA recommended cola or soda limit. One product, SoBe No Fear, came in at 141 mg for a 16-ounce serving, the study found.


Several of the Starbucks brand coffee drinks were above the soda caffeine limit, most notably Starbucks Doubleshot, which had more than 105 mg of caffeine, the investigators said.


In certain people, caffeine causes serious health effects, such as anxiety, palpitations, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and stomach complaints, Dr. Goldberger said. Because caffeinated beverages do not list the amount of caffeine they contain on their labels, pregnant women, children, infants, or people with certain psychiatric diseases or anxiety conditions may unknowingly ingest too much, he added.


Although people tend to assume caffeinated beverages are safe, "People with psychiatric diseases could have manifestations of anxiety when they consume too much caffeine, and people with hypertension could increase their heart rate," Dr. Goldberger said.


Warning labels should accompany all caffeinated beverages, and nutritional labeling should be expanded to include the amount of caffeine per serving, the authors said.


In addition, "Considering the documented effects of caffeine on children and pregnant women, it would be prudent for the consumer product labeling of all caffeinated beverages to indicate the maximum amount of caffeine recommended for such groups," the authors concluded.

[southerngale]

I'm surprised at how little caffeine is in them. I drank SoBe No Fear recently and expected to feel a little more energetic. I wasn't tired, but it didn't really affect me.

I think there's more caffeine in my coffee mug in the morning.



Btw, it does have a warning for children, pregnant women, etc.

[stormie_skies]

Why anyone would be surprised that something called an "energy drink" would have loads of caffeine in it is beyond me....

It wouldn't bother me to see labels disclosing how much caffeine there is per serving, but honestly, I think that would be used more by sleepy people trying to get the most bang for their buck than it would be by pregnant women trying to decide between a Doubleshot & a water (duh!). When I was a kid I used to spend my allowance on Mountain Dew for sleepovers without my parents knowing....I didn't like it but I heard it had a lot of caffeine in it so I drank it anyways so I could stay up late. Nowadays, I'd prolly be hoarding the Red Bull!

[greeng13]

anyone remember JOLT cola?? I wonder how much caffeine was in there??

[therock1811]

I'm surprised at how little caffeine is in them. I drank SoBe No Fear recently and expected to feel a little more energetic. I wasn't tired, but it didn't really affect me.

I think there's more caffeine in my coffee mug in the morning.



Btw, it does have a warning for children, pregnant women, etc.

Caffeine is listed on Red Bull, but I don't notice it much.

[Hurricaneman]

Most of what gives yo the energy from energy drinks is electrolytes

[coriolis]

anyone remember JOLT cola?? I wonder how much caffeine was in there??

Jolt's tag line was "All the sugar, twice the caffiene"

[beachbum_al]

I remember JOLT. Brings back memories.

And as for the so called energy drinks...they do nothing for me. I would rather have a cup of Java.

[alicia-w]

One 12 ounce can of Jolt has 72mg of caffeine but twice the sugar of regular soft drinks. Here are the caffeine amounts for other sodas (per 12 oz):


Sugar-Free Mr. Pibb 58.8
Mountain Dew 55.0 (no caffeine in Canada)
Diet Mountain Dew 55.0
Kick citrus 54 (36mg per 8oz can, caffeine from guarana)
Mello Yellow 52.8
Surge 51.0
Tab 46.8
Battery energy drink -- 140mg/l = 46.7mg/can
Coca-Cola 45.6
Diet Cola 45.6
Shasta Cola 44.4
Shasta Cherry Cola 44.4
Shasta Diet Cola 44.4
Mr. Pibb 40.8
OK Soda 40.5
Dr. Pepper 39.6
Pepsi Cola 37.2
Aspen 36.0
Diet Pepsi 35.4
RC Cola 36.0
Diet RC 36.0
Diet Rite 36.0
Canada Dry Cola 30.0
Canada Dry Diet Cola 1.2
7 Up 0

By comparison, a 7 oz cup of coffee has the following caffeine (mg) amounts:
Drip 115-175
Espresso 100mg of caffeine
1 serving (1.5-2oz)

Brewed 80-135
Instant 65-100
Decaf, brewed 3-4
Decaf, instant 2-3
Tea, iced (12 ozs.) 70
Tea, brewed, imported 60
Tea, brewed, U.S. 40
Tea, instant 30
Mate 25-150mg

[greeng13]

wow i would not have thought that Mr. Pibb was that high in caffeine!

[southerngale]

I didn't even know there was a sugar-free Mr. Pibb! We don't have Mr. Pibb here, but when I travel where they have it, I always get some. Love that stuff!

[alicia-w]

so i'm assuming that the energy comes from the combination of higher caffeine and sugar levels. the caffeine alone doesnt appear to be enough to do anything.