Consumption of energy drinks (such as Redbull®, Monster Energy Drink®, and Rocks

Question

Consumption of energy drinks (such as Redbull®, Monster Energy Drink®, and Rockstar®) among children, teenagers, and young adults has risen in the last decade. Emergency department visits relating to energy drink consumption has also risen (Thorlton, 2014). These drinks contain various vitamins and electrolytes, and other ingredients that alter the body’s fluid balance.

Research the effects these energy drinks have on the body and the complications associated with them. In your post, address the following questions:

How do energy drinks influence the overall electrolyte and acid-base balance of the body?

Should this multi-billion dollar industry be more highly regulated? Why or why not?

Should energy drink companies be allowed to market these products to children? Why or why not?

Should it be illegal to sell them to anyone under the age of 16? Why or why not?

Should these drinks have a warning label on them? Why or why not?

Reference

Explanation / Answer

1. Energy drinks or Energy Beverages(EB) are the ones marketed as nutritional supplements which contain caffeine, taurine, guarana, vitamins, herbal supplements and sugars,or sweetners. Among all of them, caffeine is an active main ingredient which is about 5 times more in quantity as compared to the soft drinks. It is reported in many researches that caffeine is a diuretic and its high intake increases the glomerular blood pressure(or blood flow through kidnys) which results in more urine output resulting in dehydrated condition in the body. The presence of sweetners in the energy drinks and their higher intake also leads to similar effect on urine output.

As, it is well known fact that kidneys are the main organs maintaining acid-base balance in the body by excreting out excessive acids(Hydrogen ions) or bicarbonate ions through urine to maintain the blood pH around 7.4(towards neutral).Imagine, if the urine output increases, then more excretion of acidic or basic component may lead to change in normal blood pH. Hence, acid-base balance gets disturbed on excessive consumption of these energy drinks.

2.Yes, I believe that this industry should be more regulated because on actual ground, their consumption is highly increased among teenagers and children both in developed and developing nations, who ignores the fact that they are nutritonal supplements. The fault is not only of their ignorance but also the marketing tactics of this industry which sell these energy drinks as something essential for risk-takers which attracts the youth.

At least government should be strict about asking them to reveal the actual composition and exact % of their ingredients. Like, as of now, caffeine% mentioned by the manufacturers excludes the caffeine contributed by their additives like cocoa, guarana, kola nut, yerba mate. Also, some statutory warning regarding their usage should also be mentioned on their cans.

3. I don't think that these companies should be allowed to sell their products to children because children are at their developmental stage and any imbalance in their nutrition can affect their overall development and can lead to some long term metabolic disorders. In fact, many ill effects have also been reported like insomnia, anxiety, seizures ,tremor, tachycardia, palpitations among Children due to the excessive consumption of these drinks. Long term effects are yet to be documented in detail but its not going to indicate better results as they are not some therapeutics.

Besides, i don't feel there is any need of it for children because at the young age, they are already very active and energetic and they must build their endurance by indulging in physical exercises on daily routine instead of relying on these nutritional supplements.

4. If we consider the fact that caffeine is one of the active ingredient of these drinks and that too in high % than recommended ones, So i think that legal and unrestricted availabilty of these drinks could be considered homologous to over the counter legally available psychoactive drug. And, when the drugs are sold only after doctor's prescription, following the same logic, i believe that there should also be age restriction on these enegy drinks.

5.Yes, they must have some statutory labels warning about potential effects of their excessive consumption due to caffeine presence. Also, since these drinks aggravate the problems of diabetes, hyperthyroidism and their potential effects on interaction with some over the counter medications like aspirin, clopidogrel etc.

So, as a responsible industry, they must make their consumers aware about their products pros and cons.

6.Reference- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3065144/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2966367/

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