Why it is not a good idea for your children to drink energy drinks

Seven autonomous communities are considering following in Galicia's footsteps and will study regulating the sale of energy drinks to minors, according to Efe.. Experts and organizations such as the Ministry of Health or the Spanish Association of Pediatrics advise against the consumption of this type of products in adolescents.. These are the reasons:

What are energy drinks?

Drinks with high caffeine content are those that provide more than 15 milligrams of this substance per 100 milliliters of drink, as specified by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN).. On the labeling of these drinks, it is mandatory to report the caffeine content and it is expressed in milligrams per 100 milliliters (mg/100 ml).. Normally, on average, so-called “energy drinks” contain 32 mg of caffeine per 100 ml. Therefore, the caffeine in a 500 ml can, a common sales format, reaches 160 mg per can, the equivalent of two espresso coffees.

Why is the consumption of energy drinks a concern?

The problems that the abuse of these drinks can cause mainly have to do with three aspects: their high caffeine content, the large amounts of sugars they contain, and their frequent combination with alcohol.

What problems can energy drinks trigger?

According to the AESAN, the consumption of more than 60 milligrams of caffeine in adolescents between 11 and 17 years old (about 200 milliliters of an energy drink with 32 mg of caffeine/100 ml) can cause sleep disturbances.. From 160 milligrams of caffeine (500 milliliters of an energy drink with 32 mg of caffeine/100 ml), it can cause general adverse health effects: psychological effects and behavioral alterations and cardiovascular disorders. These effects would be added to those of other foods that contain caffeine: coffee, tea, chocolate, guarana, etc.. Therefore, “its consumption by adolescents is not recommended,” the agency states.

The agency reminds that energy drinks with sugars “can contribute to exceeding the recommended daily intake of simple sugars (50 g per day according to the WHO recommendation) since a 250 ml can provides between 27.5 and 30 g and the container of 500 ml between 55 and 60 g”.

Furthermore, “regular consumption of caffeine can cause moderate physical dependence from 100 mg/day and tolerance to this substance, creating the need to consume a higher dose than the initial one to achieve an effect similar to the original.”

With what cardiovascular problems has its consumption been related?

In addition to palpitations, tachycardia and other signs of cardiovascular stimulation, due to the effects of caffeine, the appearance of serious arrhythmias, both atrial and ventricular, associated with excessive consumption, as well as cardiomyopathies, generally linked to a very high intake, have been described. high consumption of energy drinks in a short period of time. The latter are very rare, exceptional cases, but there is evidence in the scientific literature.

What happens if energy drinks are mixed with alcohol?

One of the aspects that most worries the specialists consulted is the combination of energy drinks and alcohol. Different studies have shown that this mixture masks the perception of alcohol intoxication and produces a false sense of security that leads young people to consume more alcohol and behave recklessly.. For example, a recent study funded by the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), in which researchers from CIBEROBN and the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute participated, showed that mixing alcohol with energy drinks favors the predisposition to drive under the influence. of alcohol.

What are the experts' recommendations?

The AESAN recommends avoiding the consumption of so-called energy drinks in these people and circumstances:

• Boys and girls, adolescents, pregnant women and breastfeeding women.
• People with hypertension or cardiovascular problems.
• People who suffer from sleep disorders.
• Do not combine them with alcoholic beverages.
• Do not take them to rehydrate after playing sports.
• If you consume them, do so occasionally and choosing smaller formats, and consult your doctor if you take any medication regularly.

What does the legislation say about energy drinks?

To date, there is no European framework that defines and limits the contents of the active components that these drinks usually present, something that specialists claim. The only thing that is established in Regulation (EU) 1169/2011 is that on the labeling of drinks with more than 15 ml of caffeine per 100 ml it is necessary to reflect that the product has a “high caffeine content” and “not “It is recommended for children or pregnant or breastfeeding women.”