Energy drinks stimulate health concerns

Alcohol and high levels of caffeine a dangerous mix

By Ashley Niedringhaus

* Nutritionists warn of excess caffeine intakes

* There are possible long-term affects of mixing energy drinks and alcohol

* Alcohol mixed with energy drinks put users in greater danger

There are hundreds of brands of energy drinks on the market today, most of which are popular among teens and young adults. Some promote vitamins and herbs, others pledge immediate jolts of energy and others promise to give you "wiiings."

The journal on Drug and Alcohol Dependence recently described the effects of excess caffeine intoxication. Symptoms of the condition could include nervousness, restlessness, anxiety, upset stomach, tremors and rapid heartbeat.

"Individual responses (to the energy drinks) vary," said Lora de Oliveira, an academic staff member and nutrition instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's College of Health Sciences. "They are tremendously stimulating and often raise heartbeats and blood pressure."

Red Bull, which was originally released in Europe in 1987, became the first mainstream energy drink in the United States 10 years later. Red Bull is an 8.3-ounce drink that has 80 milligrams of caffeine — that averages 9.64 milligrams of caffeine per ounce.

According to energyfriend.com, a regular 12-ounce cola drink has about 35 milligrams of caffeine, and a 6-ounce cup of brewed coffee has 80 to 135 milligrams of caffeine.

De Oliveira cited one of the dangers of these highly caffeinated drinks is for regular caffeine drinkers who are taking in two to three times their normal amount in one of these drinks.

Red Bull, which was originally marketed toward extreme athletes, claims its drink improves performance — especially during times of increased strain or stress — bolsters concentration, improves reaction speed and stimulates metabolism.

Nutritionists highlight the dangers of mixing these energy drinks with alcohol by citing one of the biggest concerns as the inability to truly process how intoxicated you are, de Oliveira said.

De Oliveira said that one of the symptoms of drunkenness, fatigue, is reduced when alcohol and energy drinks are mixed. Fatigue is one of the main ways our bodies tell us we've had too much to drink, she said.

Because the energy drinks have elevated levels of caffeine, they often enable the consumer to drink alcohol for longer amounts of time which often lead to greater levels of intoxication, de Oliveira said.

"The combination of a stimulant (energy drinks) and a depressant (alcohol) can have very dangerous effects," she said.

Robert Peoples, an associate professor in the College of Health Sciences, said the caffeine in the drinks makes users more alert, but they still have impaired judgment and coordination. They just aren't feeling the effects as much.

"They probably would be more likely to get into a car and drive because they don't think they are impaired," Peoples said.

Peoples warned of potential long-term effects, like alcoholism, of mixing energy drinks and alcohol.

"It has been shown that people who are less sensitive to the effects of alcohol are more likely to become alcoholics," he said. "By continuing to drink beyond the limit that others would stop at they may be putting themselves at risk."

Medicalnewstoday.com said because of their high levels of caffeine and the ingredient taurine, several European countries, including Denmark, Norway and France, had once banned energy drinks, including Red Bull.

In mid-July, European Union member countries were forced to legalize Red Bull because of regulations saying that a product made or sold in other EU countries cannot be banned unless a health risk is proven, France's food safety agency said on their Web site.

Even with medical warnings, bars like McGillicuddy's, 1135 N. Water St., are seeing consistent sales of alcohol and energy drinks — mainly Red Bull, said bar manager Chris Conrad.

Conrad said McGillicuddy's sells around 100 energy drinks per night and goes through a couple hundred energy drinks on the weekends.

"There was a big increase in energy drinks mixed with alcohol when they first came out," Conrad said. "Now sales are always steady."

De Oliveira said energy drinks and alcohol are both diuretics, a drug that elevates the level of urine excretion from the body, and can cause extreme dehydration.

"Because of the diuretics and dehydration effects, it hinders the body's ability to metabolize alcohol," de Oliveria said. "It can make the hangover much more extreme."

Source:
http://media.www.marquettetribune.org/media/storage/paper1130/news/2008/09/30/News/Energy.Drinks.Stimulate.Health.Concerns-3458435.shtml