Energy drink sales have increased by 700% since 2000; Red Bull consumption makes up two-thirds of energy drink consumption alone. Energy drinks are essentially a way of consuming large amounts of caffeine with sugar.
Caffeine is a stimulant, increasing plasma catecholamines (adrenaline) and increasing cAMP, which is a key source of energy for muscles. However, everyone reacts differently to caffeine. Sometimes caffeine helps to make one more alert and MAYBE increase energy, reaction time and endurance BUT with high risks of side effects. The most common side effects are “insomnia, headaches, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, irritability, indigestion and nervousness.” (1)
Unfortunately, withdrawal symptoms, which can last for one week, can be just as worrisome: “irritability, anxiety, fatigue, headaches, and deterioration of performance” (1).
Lastly, caffeine is a dirutetic, leading to dehydration, which is not a desired effect in athletics.
The best known energy drinks (Red Bull, Rockstar, Full Throttle, Monster and SoBe NoFear) have about 80 mg of caffeine per 8 ounces. To give you some perspective, this is about three times that of Coke, and about the same as a Starbucks Tall Caffe Americano.
Other energy drink ingredients (in most products, but not in Red Bull) include: 1. Guarana: herbal extract, think of it as super caffeine. 2. Ginseng: an Asian herb; studies indicate that adverse effects probably exceed any benefit. 3. Taurine: not well studied, and you get all you might need of this amino acid in meat and fish. 4. Carnitine: very important amino acid, but your body makes it and there is little evidence to show that supplements help or hurt you.
Another product, “No-Name” or “Insert Name Here” used to be called Cocaine Energy Drink and amazingly contains 280 mg of caffeine compared to the 80 mg of caffeine in Red Bull. That is TEN TIMES the caffeine that is in Coke!
In summary, it seems like a lot of money to get caffeine and sugar packed into a little can. Stick to water and Gatorade. Source: 1. Contemporary Pediatrics, May 2007, pages 61-65 Braganza and Larkin
