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Research shows energy drinks have benefits, risks |
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Tuesday, 31 October 2006 |
by MATT GRAVATT
Intern Lifestyles Reporter
In bars across the nation and in the minds of college students, the only thing more exciting than a mechanical bull is a Red Bull.
The
energy drink is finding a growing wave of popularity in America,
especially among what Red Bull’s Web site calls “world-class athletes,
busy professionals, active students and long-distance drivers.”
 Active Image | Bryan Tarnowski | Photo Illustration
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Much of Red Bull’s marketing strategy involves bringing Red Bull into
the college atmosphere and making it a visible icon for the fast-paced
lifestyle it promotes.
The Austrian company sponsors brand representatives in colleges across
the world that hand out free samples and promote the beverage at events.
Due to this enhanced exposure, many students at Appalachian State
University are turning to what are now being called “functional energy
drinks,” such as Red Bull, Sobe Adrenaline Rush and Amp, among others.
“[Energy drinks] are better than coffee,” Timothy J. McFarland, a
junior anthropology major, said. “They get you going throughout the
day.”
Statements such as these are often heard in support of such drinks,
that they enhance alertness and give energy to consumers. Company Web
sites from all brands tout their product as offering the same benefits.
However, unlike sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade, which are
designed to hydrate with a blend of electrolytes to maintain physical
stamina, energy drinks such as Red Bull contain caffeine.
Since its introduction to the U.S. market in 1994, several studies have
evaluated claims by Red Bull that the drink enhances stamina and mental
alertness.
The results of these studies have shown energy drinks, when consumed at
the right time, offer “significant improvements in mental performance,”
according to a study published in the scientific journal, “Amino Acids.”
The performance-enhancing benefits of these drinks are due to their
caffeine content and the mixture of other ingredients found in the
drinks, according to the study.
Dr. Chuck Dumke, an associate professor in the department of health,
exercise and leisure science, said that above all, energy drinks
“stimulate the nervous system.”
They trigger the “flight or fight” response, he said. This is what makes people respond to these kinds of drinks.
Dumke said the energy drink manufacturers do very little to back up their claims on the benefits of the drinks.
“[They have] no nutritional value at all,” he said. “They act more like a drug even though they aren’t considered one.”
Most of the concerns surrounding the energy drinks on the market today
relate to the amount of caffeine they contain. Many countries,
including Denmark, Malaysia and France, have introduced legislation to
ban Red Bull and other energy drinks.
Some countries will not sell the drink to minors, according to snopes.com.
Energy drinks are not expressly dangerous, Dumke said, but high levels
of caffeine can lead to arrhythmia, a condition in which ones heartbeat
is abnormal. Caffeine also serves as a diuretic, making it possible to
become dehydrated.
Another health issue surrounding energy drinks is their combination
with alcohol, a trend increasingly popular among college-aged
students.
Energy drinks are stimulants, and alcohol is a depressant, Dumke said.
In combination, there is risk for dehydration and passing out.
Energy drinks are designed to provide bursts of energy, and the company
Web sites of Red Bull, Adrenaline Rush and Amp do not condone drinking
their product in combination with alcoholic beverages.
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