Energy drinks ‘threat to public health’: JAMA commentary

[Guest guest]

Scientists and health professions should not wait for FDA action and should

be educating consumers of the dangers of consuming energy drinks, says a new

commentary in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

Amelia Arria from the University of land School of Public Health and

O’Brien from Wake Forest University School of Medicine write

that current limitations for

caffeine<http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/content/search?SearchText=caffeine & \

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in cola-like drinks do not apply to energy

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ks & FromNews>,

perhaps due to the presence of herbal

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This has led to products on the market containing between 50- 505 mg

caffeine/serving, compared with FDA limits for cola-like drinks, which is 71

mg per 12-oz serving.

As such, these products are a *“just as great a threat to individual and

public health and safety” *as the ‘premixed’ alcoholic energy drinks

recently deemed unsafe by the FDA.

*“Although more research is necessary, so are proactive steps to protect

public health,”* write Arria and O’Brien. *“To promote informed consumer

choices, regulatory agencies should require specific labeling regarding

caffeine content, with warnings about the risks associated with caffeine

consumption in adolescents and in pregnant women as well as with explicit

information about the potential risks associated with mixing energy drinks

with alcohol.”*

*“The collective priority of health professionals should be to educate the

public about known risks, and industry officials and servers should caution

consumers about the risks of mixing alcohol with energy drinks,”* they

added.

*Booming market*

According to a recent report from market analyst Canadean, energy drinks

have managed to maintain their popularity during the economic downturn,

despite their higher price per litre and negative publicity.

Canadean’s latest report “Emerging Trends & Growth Opportunities in Energy

Drinks: Shots, Flavour Trends & Forecasts to 2015” claimed that whilst the

rate of growth for performance enhancing products has slowed since 2008,

many consumers are still prepared to pay the price premium for functional

benefits.

In North America, Canada is expected to return to growth on the back of

increasing competition between the multinationals and strong innovation.

Progress in the US is predicted to be driven by a pick up in convenience

store sales, said Canadean. Indeed, some estimates put the US market at a

eye-opening $5.4 billion in 2006.

In terms of ingredients, Canadean said exotic herbs and substances such as

ginkgo biloba, ginseng and milk thistle are commonly present in energy

drinks, and that the fat-burning compound L-carnitine is increasingly

appearing in formulations.

*New comment*

The new commentary in JAMA may serve as a warning shot across the bow of the

energy drink sector.

*“More research that can guide actions of regulatory agencies is

needed,” *write

Arria and O’Brien. *“Until results from such research are available, the

following should be seriously considered: health care professionals should

inform their patients of the risks associated with the use of highly

caffeinated energy drinks; the public should educate themselves about the

risks of energy drink use, in particular the danger associated with mixing

energy drinks and alcohol; and the alcohol and energy drink industries

should voluntarily and actively caution consumers against mixing energy

drinks with alcohol, both on their product labels and in their advertising

materials.”*

Source: *JAMA*

Published online ahead of print, doi:10.1001/jama.2011.109

*“The " High " Risk of Energy Drinks”*

Authors: A.M. Arria, M.C. O’Brien

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

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