Are Energy Drinks Bad for You?

Consumption of energy drinks is a public health concern because a growing body of evidence documents harmful health effects of energy drinks. They provide an extra boost in energy, promote wakefulness, maintain alertness, and provide cognitive and mood enhancement. Cola products have been on the market for over 100 years; more recently, we have access to more robust energy drinks like Red Bull and Monster. We when think of energy drinks, we are really talking about these products. Because they’re loaded with caffeine and sugar, you may get short-term energy, but your energy level will crash again.

The energy drinks sound like healthy concoctions because they often include B vitamins, ginseng, and amino acids, but manufacturers aren’t required to include the caffeine content of herbal supplements on the label, so you can’t be sure what you’re really getting. It is also important to note the serving size of your energy drink; it contains more than one serving!

What are the dangers?

The long-term effects of these beverages must be evaluated more closely in order to fully comprehend the health impact of these products.

Liver Damage—Some energy drinks contain twice the amount of vitamin B3. Over-consumption (4-5 drinks/day) and long-term use (as little as 3 weeks) of vitamin B3 has been linked to liver damage. Symptoms present like the stomach flu: abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting plus generalized jaundice. Initially, liver damage is diagnosed by blood tests. Any progression to more severe liver damage is dependent on factors including alcohol use.

Impact of alcohol—it seems everyone can agree that energy drinks + alcohol is dangerous! Combining a depressant with a stimulant masks the symptoms of intoxication, which can encourage a person to drink even more. The liver is particularly vulnerable. The number of energy drink-related emergency room visits increased exponentially since 2005. The majority of these visits were people aged 18-39.

Dehydration—Energy drinks contain diuretics, which increase urination and promote dehydration. When we are guzzling energy drinks in the hot weather, we are increasing the risk of heat-
related illnesses.

Can we overdose? It takes quite a large amount of caffeine to be dangerous, but it can lead to irritability, hyper aroused states, abnormal heart beat and cardiac arrest. Doctors recommend that people don’t consume more than 400-500 mg/day. An average cup of tea has about 40 mg while a 12-oz Starbucks coffee has about 260 mg; other brands average about 100 mg for a regular sized cup.

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How Can We Help Our Employees?

Although OSHA does not have specific guidelines, employers can remove energy drinks from vending machines or prohibit their use while on duty. Address them in your safety meetings. Employees with liver and kidney disease, heart conditions or hypertension should avoid energy drinks completely.