Bebidas Energeticas

Health Effects of Energy Drinks on Children,
Adolescents, and Young Adults
abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the effects, adverse consequences, and extent of
energy-drink consumption among children, adolescents, and young
adults.
METHODS: We searched PubMed and Google using “energy drink,”
“sports drink,” “guarana,” “caffeine,” “taurine,” “ADHD,” “diabetes,”
“children,” “adolescents,”“insulin,” “eating disorders,” and “poison
control center” to identify articles related to energy drinks. Manufacturer
Web sites were reviewed for product information.
RESULTS: According to self-report surveys, energy drinks are consumed
by 30% to 50% of adolescents and young adults. Frequently
containing high and unregulated amounts of caffeine, these drinks
have been reported in association withserious adverse effects, especially
in children, adolescents, and young adults with seizures, diabetes,
cardiac abnormalities, or mood and behavioral disorders or
those who take certain medications. Of the 5448 US caffeine overdoses
reported in 2007, 46% occurred in those younger than 19
years. Several countries and states have debated or restricted their
sales and advertising.
CONCLUSIONS:Energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many
ingredients are understudied and not regulated. The known and unknown
pharmacology of agents included in such drinks, combined with
reports of toxicity, raises concern for potentially serious adverse effects
in association with energy-drink use. In the short-term, pediatricians
need to be aware of the possible effects of energy drinks invulnerable populations and screen for consumption to educate families.
Long-term research should aim to understand the effects in at-risk
populations. Toxicity surveillance should be improved, and regulations
of energy-drink sales and consumption should be based on appropriate
research. Pediatrics 2011;127:511–528
AUTHORS: Sara M. Seifert, BS, Judith L. Schaechter, MD,
Eugene R. Hershorin, MD,and Steven E. Lipshultz, MD
Department of Pediatrics and the Pediatric Integrative Medicine
Program, University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of
Medicine, Miami, Florida
KEY WORDS
energy drink, caffeine, taurine, children, adolescents, overdose
ABBREVIATIONS
FDA—Food and Drug Administration
ADHD—attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderwww.pediatrics.org/cgi/doi/10.1542/peds.2009-3592
doi:10.1542/peds.2009-3592
Accepted for publication Dec 3, 2010
Address correspondence to Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, Department
of Pediatrics (D820), Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine,
University of Miami, Medical Campus MCCD-D820, 1601 NW 12th
Ave, 9th Floor, PO Box 016820, Miami, FL 33101. E-mail:
slipshultz@med.miami.edu
PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 0031-4005; Online, 1098-4275).Copyright © 2011 by the American Academy of Pediatrics
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have
no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose.
Funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
SPECIAL ARTICLES
PEDIATRICS Volume 127, Number 3, March 2011 511
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“Energy drinks” are beverages thatcontain caffeine, taurine, vitamins,
herbal supplements, and sugar or
sweeteners and are marketed to improve
energy, weight loss, stamina,
athletic performance, and concentration.
1–3 Energy drinks are available
in
140 countries and are the fastest
growing US beverage market; in 2011,
sales are expected to top $9 billion.4–10
Half of the energy-drink market consists
of children (12years old), adolescents
(12–18 years old), and young
adults (19 –25 years old).7–10
Although healthy people can tolerate
caffeine in moderation, heavy caffeine
consumption, such as drinking energy
drinks, has been associated with even
more serious consequences such as
seizures, mania, stroke, and sudden
death.6– 8,12–14 Numerous reports exist
in the popular media, and there are a...