Thursday, April 7, 2011

Sports/Energy Drinks - Are We Addicting Our Kids to Them?

We all want more energy and more alertness on the playing field, whether it is sports, debate, cards, or just joking around.  It is not surprising the distinction between sports drinks and energy drinks is blurring.  The concerns for our youth with growing bodies and developing physiologic systems are multiple.  The sugars in these drinks are addicting enough and challenging to the insulin endocrine system.  The energy drinks, however, are fundamentally different due to many additives in them.

The most obvious concern is caffeine.  Energy drinks typically contain 10 mg (to 16 mg) per ounce.  This totals 240mg (to 390 mg) for a 24 oz. drink.  Note: The amount of caffeine necessary to create measurable physiologic changes in a full size adult is about 50mg.  Also note: Cardiac arrest (heart failure) has been anecdotally associated with drinking large energy drinks.  Although the direct causal relationships has not been proven (obviously difficult research to do if someone’s life is at risk), the implications are obvious.  For some young children with sensitive myocardium (heart muscle) the potential threat is clear and catastrophic.

Are we addicting our children's physiologic developing systems to caffeine?  The amount of caffeine for full size adults to develop an addiction is about 100 mg per day.  In a recent study of 228 families with young children, 75% of the children consumed caffeine.  For those children who consumed caffeine, the average daily consumption for 5 to 7 year olds was 52 mg and for 8 to 12 year olds it was 109 mg.  Yikes.  An additional note about caffeine for youth.  Caffeine consumption in youth age 5 to 12 has been correlated with decreased average sleep.  Sleep studies have linked inadequate sleep with ADHD type behavior.

Guarana, an additional ingredient in energy drinks contains both caffeine and guaranine, a stimulant that acts very much like caffeine in our bodies.  The amount of guaranine (nor Guarana) is not listed in these drinks.  Guaranine has documented cardiac side affects like caffeine and the medical literature recommends patients under cardiac care consult their physician before taking any Guarana supplements.  I have not seen a potency comparison between caffeine and guaranine, but the cardiac affect of the 2 is additive.  Should we be allowing our growing athletes to consume these addictive substances?

Taurine, another ingredient, an amino-acid, is more difficult to pinpoint.  The literature contains a broad list (with some warnings) of the possible effects and mechanisms of this stimulant.  Though we know it stimulates changes in physiologic function within cells, the specific results are ambiguous in the research literature.  It is added to these beverages because of its stimulant value.  It is concerning to me when I realize children with developing physiologic systems are consuming supplemental amounts of taurine.  All of these ingredients (Caffeine, Guarana, Taurine) came to us from ancient cultures in which the shaman discovered the mood altering capabilities of these herbal plants. 

Once again I come to some basic tenets of sports (and energy) drinks.

Water - the basic ingredient of these drinks - is usable and vital to our bodies.  Next time try plain water, it is nature’s best.

Sugar (fructose, sucrose) - We don't need more if we eat regular meals.  Most of us are damaged by the excess empty calories.  Children getting extra calories from beverages become picky eaters because they are not really hungry at meal time.  And they become overweight despite their activity level.

Electrolytes - If we eat real food at our meals, we don't need more electrolytes.

Energy stimulants (Caffeine, guaranine, taurine) we don't need.  A college student might appreciate it if studying late and some of us need a “wake up” in the morning.  However, our youth, including the college student and young athlete, don't need artificial stimulants (energy?) for physical activity.

Next blog: Give Your Teeth a Rest.       
Dr. Scott Thompson  - Pediatric Dentistry 

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