Depression, reason to limit intake of energy drinks .

Energy drinks are not just an alternative to carbonated soft drinks to replenish lost energy and improve  mood. Experts warn that its consumption, especially among teenagers may be linked with poor mental health and substance use, reports Sade Oguntola.

ENERGY drinks is the favourite of many, after a hard day’s work or exhaustion, who want to replenish lost energy. Marketing suggests benefits such as increased energy and stamina, weight loss, and enhanced physical and mental performance. To some, it sounds like the perfect student elixir. However, if you consume energy drinks, it can lead to mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse.

In a new study, researchers from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University are calling for limits on its intake, especially among youths and a reduction in the amount of caffeine in each can. They are warning that energy drinks might facilitate marijuana or alcohol use and depression among teenagers, in a study.

The study’s conclusions were based on data from 2012 Student Drug Use Survey, which polled more than 8,000 junior and senior high-school students in Canada.

A study published in the latest edition of the journal, Preventive Medicine, reported that about two-thirds of them reported consuming an energy drink in the previous year. About one in five students said they drank the beverages once or more each month, said the study.

The researchers found that energy drink consumption was more common among teenagers who reported sensation-seeking and had high depression scores along with those that used cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol.

According to them, this should be a cause of concern, especially for those at an increased risk for substance abuse.

Of course, no direct causation between energy drink use and substance abuse or depression has been shown. But these beverages have been linked to more direct health problems, such as cardiovascular symptoms, sleep impairment and nervousness, as well as nausea.

No doubt, these drinks appeal to young people because of their temporary benefits like increased alertness, improved mood and enhanced mental and physical energy.

Energy drinks are flavoured beverages containing high amounts of stimulants such as caffeine and other additives, such as vitamins, taurine, herbal supplements, creatine, sugars, and guarana, a plant product containing concentrated caffeine. They are often sold in cans and bottles and are readily available in grocery stores, bars and other venues.

Some contain high levels of sugar, and many brands offer artificially sweetened ‘diet’ versions.  Some types of energy drinks also contain alcohol.

Also, a common ingredient in most energy drinks is caffeine, often in the form of guarana or yerba mate. Caffeine is the stimulant that is found in coffee and tea. These beverages provide high doses of caffeine that stimulate the central nervous system and cardiovascular system.

The total amount of caffeine in a can or bottle of an energy drink varies from about 80 to more than 500 milligrammes, compared with about 100 mg in a 5-ounce cup of coffee or 50 mg in a 12-ounce cola. Consumption of a single energy drink will not lead to excessive caffeine intake, but consumption of two or more drinks in a single day can.

Other stimulants such as ginseng are often added to energy drinks and may enhance the effects of caffeine, and ingredients such as guarana themselves contain caffeine.

Studies have indicated that large amounts of caffeine can cause adverse effects such as insomnia, nervousness, headache, fast heartbeat, and seizures that are severe enough to require emergency care.

Research suggests that certain additives may compound the stimulant effects of caffeine. For example, those that contain alcohol, are an hazardous combination.

Consumption of energy drinks is a rising public health problem because medical and behavioural consequences can result from excessive caffeine intake. A growing body of scientific evidence documents harmful health effects of energy drinks, particularly for children, adolescents, and young adults.

Research has established that, among college students, there are associations between energy drink consumption and problematic behaviours such as marijuana use, sexual risk taking, fighting, smoking, drinking, and prescription drug misuse.

In a recent report, the American Academy of Paediatrics discouraged use of energy drinks for children of all ages, including young athletes, and a joint study by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the Institute of Medicine recommended that beverages available in schools should be caffeine-free.

In the US, energy drinks have been linked with reports of nausea, abnormal heart rhythms and emergency room visits. The drinks may cause seizures due to the “crash” following the energy high that occurs after consumption.

Energy drinks can also be problematic in older adults. Scientists suggest that older adults may also be vulnerable to the effects of energy drinks, even though the drinks are marketed with claims of having a positive impact on energy and concentration.

The safety of these products among adults who take medications or have medical conditions has been questioned. In fact, studies have found that energy drinks consumed with alcohol may affect heart rates, blood pressure and even mental states.

Meanwhile health professionals have discouraged use of energy drinks, explaining that perceived health benefits are largely due to marketing techniques rather than scientific evidence.

The energy drink industry, which had estimated sales last year of more than $10 billion, has come under increasing scrutiny after recent disclosures that the Food and Drug Administration has received numerous reports of deaths and injuries in which the drinks were mentioned.

Meanwhile, a health warning on one of these energy drinks states: “Consumption of more than two cans in a day may be harmful to your health.

Not to be used for pregnant women, breast feeders, children under the age of 16, people with heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, allergy to caffeine, and athletes during exercise.”