Jolt of Liquid Energy is the Last Thing Kids Need

Energy drinks are becoming increasingly popular. With their bright logos, loud advertisements, and exciting names, it’s no wonder that kids and teens are drawn to these drinks. Although they cannot be sold in schools, between 30-50 percent of adolescents and young adults reportedly consume energy drinks. According to recent research, the energy drink industry is worth about $9 billion and people under 26 make up half of the consumer market.

An important difference between energy drinks and other beverages such as soda is that the Food and Drug Administration considers energy drinks dietary supplements, which means that they have a different set of regulations. Manufacturers of dietary supplements are not required to register their products or get approval before putting them on the market. However, they are responsible for making sure their products are safe and their labels are truthful. If a supplement is found to be unsafe once it’s on the market, then the FDA will take action.  

Another important thing to know is that there are no restrictions on the amount of nutrients in or serving sizes of energy drinks. Ingredients that have been found to be safe in certain amounts might be found in higher amounts in dietary supplements. Further, single cans may contain more than one serving, meaning the person consuming the drink may be getting a high dose of some powerful ingredients. 

Caffeine is one of the most common ingredients in energy drinks. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system and is generally safe in average amounts. Small people and those who do not regularly consume caffeine tend to be more sensitive to the stimulant and may experience sleeping problems, anxiety, headaches, dizziness, or feel jittery.

While adults can safely consume about 300 mg of caffeine per day (about 2-4 cups of coffee), teens should limit caffeine to 100 mg or less and children should have even less than 100 mg. FDA regulations do not allow more than 71 mg of caffeine per 12 ounces of soda. Some energy drinks don’t have much more than that, while others have up to 500 mg. For a list of common beverages and their caffeine contents, click here (and scroll to page 3). 

A study on caffeine use in kids and teens found that, on average, there were 1,200 cases of caffeine overdose in children under age 6 each year between 2006 and 2008. Symptoms of caffeine overdose may include irregular heartbeat, convulsions, breathing trouble, hallucinations and vomiting. In 2007, half of all cases of caffeine toxicity involved children under 17. It is unknown how many of these overdoses resulted from energy drink consumption, but the possibility that they contributed to the statistics makes vigilance important.

There are many other mysterious ingredients in energy drinks. Safe intake levels have not been set for many of these ingredients, and some of them may also interact with certain medications. The National Institutes of Health has a helpful website for researching basic information on many of these ingredients. 

The increasingly frequent advertisements, wide availability, and exciting promises of today’s energy drinks make them tempting to young people. It is important for parents and schools to educate children and set guidelines for the use of these products that offer no nutritional value and are not as well regulated by the FDA as other beverages are for safety.

Registered dietician Kelley Devlin covers a range of dietary issues facing children and parents. Those with food or diet questions may email her.

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