Discussion
Soft drinks containing caffeine are the major source of caffeine intake in children and adolescents, and their caffeine consumption has risen exponentially in the last 30 years [8]. The fastest-growing trend is toward highly caffeinated beverages known as “energy drinks,” which differ from “sports drinks” such as Gatorade™. The general public is unlikely to be educated about the amount of caffeine in energy drinks and the possible ill effects that these drinks may cause in children and adolescents who consume them [13]. Energy drinks contain three to four times the caffeine as a typical soda and promise to boost performance and to enhance metabolism. Energy drinks like Full Throttle™, Red Bull™, SoBe No Fear™, and Monster™ typically contain a combination of caffeine, carbohydrates, B vitamins, amino acids, and other ingredients. One 8.2-ounce can of Red Bull™ contains 80 mg of caffeine (0.03%), twice as much as a 12-ounce soda; and one 16-ounce can of SoBe No Fear™ contains 141 mg of caffeine, four times as much as a soda. Mountain Dew™, which is marketed along with other sodas, contains more caffeine than other typical sodas at 55 mg per 12 ounces (Figure 5) [14, 15]. Little regulation occurs with the production and marketing of energy drinks in the United States of America, with caffeine content between energy drinks ranging from 50 mg to 505 mg per bottle [16]. With the lack of regulation and strong marketing campaign toward young male athletes, energy drinks are becoming a serious threat to adolescents and are postulated to have caused grave consequences in an Australian athlete [17].
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