John Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that many of the energy drinks now on the market should carry labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risk for consumers. The caffeine content varies over a ten fold range; some of the products actually contain the equivalent of 14 cans of coca-cola. What’s concerning is these products are often unlabeled and do not include warnings of health risks associated with caffeine intoxication. Advertising is targeted at the teen and young adult market as performance enhancing and appear to glorify drug use.
Caffeine intoxication is marked by nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, tachycardia, restlessness and pacing and in rare cases death. A regular 12 oz cola drink contains about 35 milligrams of caffeine, six ounces of brewed coffee has 80 to 150 milligrams of caffeine. Energy drinks are marketed as a “dietary supplement” the limitation the Food and Drug Administration requires does not apply (71 milligrams/12oz). The caffeine content of energy drinks range from 50 to more than 500 milligrams. Manufactures of energy drinks also advertise their products as energy enhancing and stimulating – a marketing strategy that predisposes young people to abusing stronger stimulants such as the prescription drugs amphetamine and Ritalin.
John Hopkins scientists who have spent decades researching the effects of caffeine report that many of the energy drinks now on the market should carry labels that note caffeine doses and warn of potential health risk for consumers. The caffeine content varies over a ten fold range; some of the products actually contain the equivalent of 14 cans of coca-cola. What’s concerning is these products are often unlabeled and do not include warnings of health risks associated with caffeine intoxication. Advertising is targeted at the teen and young adult market as performance enhancing and appear to glorify drug use.
Caffeine intoxication is marked by nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, tachycardia, restlessness and pacing and in rare cases death. A regular 12 oz cola drink contains about 35 milligrams of caffeine, six ounces of brewed coffee has 80 to 150 milligrams of caffeine. Energy drinks are marketed as a “dietary supplement” the limitation the Food and Drug Administration requires does not apply (71 milligrams/12oz). The caffeine content of energy drinks range from 50 to more than 500 milligrams. Manufactures of energy drinks also advertise their products as energy enhancing and stimulating – a marketing strategy that predisposes young people to abusing stronger stimulants such as the prescription drugs amphetamine and Ritalin.