Recently, energy drinks/products have enjoyed increased popularity. Although commonly viewed as beverages or food products by consumers, the primary ingredient, caffeine, is considered both a food additive and a drug by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).1 The caffeine content in a typical 5 ounce cup of coffee ranges from 60 to 100 mg.1 In energy products, the caffeine content varies greatly, from 47 mg to 80 mg per 8 ounces to as high as 207 mg per 2 ounces.2 Some of the reported adverse effects associated with energy drinks are known reactions to caffeine (eg, anxiety, nausea). However, the role of co-ingredients as risk factors or confounders has not been established. In the November 2012, the FDA announced an ongoing investigation based on recent reports of significant injury or death associated with products marketed as “energy drinks.”3 Summarized data from voluntary reports received by the FDA from January 1, 2004 through October 23...
New research suggests the Red Bull energy drink can temporarily boost some aspects of cognition. The study demonstrated that Red Bull improved not only the ability to store and retrieve information in short and long term memory but also the speed with which information can be retrieved. This was not seen with the sugar-free version, or the taste matched placebo drink. These effects occurred in healthy young volunteers for information learned 30 to 90 minutes after the drink. The size of the benefit was ‘clinically relevant’. So, do energy drinks actually work on improving memory? The main component of most energy drinks is caffeine. The Australian New Zealand Food Standards Code restricts the maximum amount of caffeine in an energy drink to 32 mg per 100 mL. In the United States, however, energy drinks are classed as dietary supplements, and are thus, not required to meet the Food and Drug Association limit of 20 mg of caffeine per 100 mL. A shot of 5-hour Ene...