Energy Drinks Destroying Youths Globally -Reports

Frequent consumption of energy drinks may lead to poor mental and physical health and worsen academic performance in youths. This is a problem because at this stage the brain is still maturing. This is according to the lead researcher, Claire Khouja, from the University of York and other researchers in a work published in BMJ Open journal, February, 2022.
They observed that up to half of children globally consume energy drinks at least weekly. Boys drink more often than girls and higher consumption is linked to greater poverty or deprivation.
Their research uncovered consistent evidence of links between the regular consumption of these drinks and harmful effects on the children’s overall wellbeing. These findings offer support for a government policy, banning the sale of energy drinks to children.
Furthermore, those who drink lots of these drinks get headaches, dizziness, sleep problems, stress and nervousness as well as increased heart rate, shakiness and physical and mental stimulation, Females may experience disturbed menstrual period.
The study also indicated that children who are better informed about the contents of energy drinks, drink less, suggesting that an education campaign or more prominent warnings on packaging could reduce consumption.
Many energy drinks contain large amounts of sugar and stimulants such as caffeine and guarana as well as varying amounts of carbohydrate, protein, amino acids, vitamins, sodium and other minerals. Caffeine may potentiate or increase the action of the sugar content causing insulin to be released.
These Caffeinated energy drinks are marked for boosting energy, reducing tiredness and improving concentration. They include brands like Red bull, Monster energy, Bullet, Rockstar, Boom Boom, Buzz, Effect and XXL.
There is global concern about their consumption and effects on children who may be at risk with ill efects than adults due to caffeine toxicity.
Also, young people are thought to be more at risk compared to older people who may experience beneficial effects.
An additional risk has been observed among university students, who are at higher risks when there is a combination with alcohol.
However, findings indicate that energy drinks consumption among adolescents is associated with alcohol and substance use which may lead to risky behaviours and psychological states, including sensation seeking, depression and anxiety symptoms. It also impacts negatively on executive functions and increases hyperactivity or inattention symptoms among adolescents,therefore there is a potential risk of energy drink consumption in adolescents.
Other reports said increased caffeine consumption in children and adolescents may result in increased blood pressure, sleep disturbances, headaches and stomach aches. Also, self reported injury due to hyperactivity.
The Association of United Kingdom Dietitians stated that consumption of energy drinks by young people is on the rise. Specialist Paediatic, Eating Disorder Dietitian, Annabel Gipp, said that adolescence is a period of maximum bone deposition and caffeine interferes with the absorption of calcium in the small intestine and so may lead to reduced calcium deposition in bones.This may be as a result of energy drinks being consumed instead of calcium -containing drinks such as milk.
The use of energy drinks by adolescents may be affecting future food and drinks choices due to alterations in the reward and addiction centre of the brain. Subsequently, young people with eating disorders are at a higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias due to their low weight, so the use of these products may be particularly worrying.
Also, data collected from the Australian NSW Poison Information Centre reported calls over a seven year period relating to energy drink consumption with young people increasing from 12 in 2004 to 65 in 2010. Symptons ranged from gastrointestinal upset and hyperactivity to hallucinations, seizures and cardiac ischaema.128 people required hospitalisation in this study.
In another study to find the effect of “Red Bull” energy drink on some neurotransmitters content and histological structure of cerebral cortex in male albino rats, Bawazir and Almehmadi (2017), found out that the chronic administration of red bull caused a significant decrease in neurotransmitter contents in different brain regions and have caused histological changes in the cerebral cortex area which have led to an atrophy of nuclei nerve cells and abnormalities in pyramidal cells which may be due to the effect of caffeine.
Meanwhile, concerns about marketing and consumption of energy drinks have led to some countries to regulate a name change from energy drinks to stimulant. In the United Kingdom, guidance on sale of caffeinated energy drinks to children and youth is still in development.
However, recently, several large UK stores have voluntarily stopped selling energy drinks to those below 16 years.

By: Ibinabo Ogolo