Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body

Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body.

Carl Stuart

Stuart Medical Series

Effects of Energy Drinks on the Human Body.

Introduction.

Energy drinks contain pharmacologically-active stimulants such as glucuronolactone, guarana, caffeine and taurine (Persand, 2011). These drinks are classified as functional foods since they do contribute to the overall energy metabolism of the body. Caffeine is a recognized neurophysiologic stimulant, but current studies are still inconclusive about the exact mechanism that causes its health effects. Guarana has a similar neurophysiologic profile as caffeine. For glucuronolactone and taurine, there is still inadequate information about their exact effects on the body; except that energy drinks do contain a high concentration of these stimulants, and thus its consumption rapidly increases the plasma levels of these stimulants. Energy drinks also contain sugar, methylxanthines (other than caffeine), water-soluble vitamins and herbal supplements which augment the actions of the psychostimulants (Guyton & Hall, 2006). These ingredients do also augment the effects of the drinks on the human body as discussed below.

Discussion of Problem under Study.

In 1999, a young student died after consuming energy drinks, and this led to a controversy concerning the harmful health effects of these drinks on the human body. The major stimulant in energy drinks is caffeine, and thus the effects of these drinks are related to the neurophysiological actions of caffeine (Guyton & Hall, 2006). Its concentration in energy drinks is considerably high, and as such consumption of such drinks does predispose an individual to caffeine abuse (Persand, 2011). The other recognized effects of energy drinks are described below.

Energy drinks do cause euphoria whose intensity is dose-dependent. However, excess consumption (or even intoxication) of these drinks can induce sympathetic overstimulation leading to insomnia, arrhythmias, anxiety, dyspepsia, agitation and irritability. Moreover, there have been reports of nausea, mood swings and impaired cognitive performance (Guyton & Hall, 2006).

Energy drinks have been shown to increase muscle endurance. Within the normal limits, they do possess restorative properties which improve cognition, processing of information and performance of mental tasks (Persand, 2011). Since, these drinks are deficient in electrolytes; they do predispose the consumer to dehydration. Dehydration adversely affects the overall body performance (Guyton & Hall, 2006).

Energy drinks are known to interact with certain medications. For instance, they do cause mydriasis when consumed by a patient who is on antidepressant medications, with drugs implicated belonging to SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) family or the TCA (tricyclic antidepressants) family. Also, their concurrent consumption with alcohol precipitates hypertension, dysrrythmias and alcohol-related mental dysfunction. Moreover, their combined use leads to marked diuresis and consequently significant dehydration (Guyton & Hall, 2006).

Current statistics show that energy drink consumption is rising, and as such it is imperative that the effects of such drinks on the human body should be investigated and reported (Persand, 2011). This research aims to investigate whether taking energy drinks can lead to over-stimulation and severe health consequences.

Hypothesis.

The hypothesis of this research is that taking energy drinks can lead to over-stimulation and severe health consequences. Thus, the appropriate null hypothesis would be that taking energy drinks does not lead to over-stimulation and severe health consequences.

Plan for Acquisition of Data.

This research would require three cohorts which will be selected from the general population. The selection of the cohort population would factor in the following variables: age, gender, chronic disease states and ethnicity. These variables do influence the quality of the data collected, since they all determine the rate of metabolism of energy drinks. The cohort population would be divided into three major groups:

1.      Cohort A: Subjects who have consumed energy drinks regularly and consistently for a period exceeding 6 months.

2.      Cohort B: Subjects who have consumed energy drinks intermittently for a period exceeding 6 months.

3.      Cohort C: Subjects who have never consumed energy drinks.

Thus, the investigator does not expose the subjects to the drinks. The cohort groups would then be evaluated using symptoms rating scales (for sympathetic over-stimulation and cognitive performance) and elucidation of the health status of the subject.

Equipment and Instrumentations Used.

The symptom rating scale will be filled in a self-report format. The symptoms evaluated are:

1.      Anxiety.

2.      Palpitations.

3.      Hallucinations.

4.      Insomnia.

5.      Cognitive competence.

6.      Mood

7.      Epigastric pain.

The elucidation of the health status of the subjects would require the following equipments for evaluation of the clinical variables:

1.      Sphygmomanometer to evaluate for hypertension and dehydration.

2.      Pen torch to evaluate for mydriasis and the integrity of the cervical sympathetic chain.

3.      Pins to evaluate for tremors associated with chronic alcohol intoxication.

Graphical Data.

The list below depicts the graphical data that is useful in this investigation.

1.      The overall score of the symptom rating scale.

2.      Blood pressure in mmHg (millimeters of mercury).

3.      Severity of the tremors using arbitrary values.

4.      Pupil size in millimeters.

Interpretation of Data.

The overall score of the symptom rating scale would indicate the degree of sympathetic overstimulation and cognitive impairment. The severity of sympathetic overstimulation is indicated by high values assigned for anxiety, palpitations, hallucinations, insomnia and epigastric pain. The severity of cognitive impairment is indicated by low values assigned for cognitive competence and mood.

            High blood pressure, severe tremors and dilated pupils do indicate sympathetic overstimulation.

Results.

The data is collected from the three cohorts and interpreted as outlined above. The results would probably show that cohort A registers the highest values assigned for anxiety, palpitations, hallucinations, insomnia and epigastric pain; and the lowest values for mood and cognitive competence. Also, cohort A would register the highest blood pressures, the greatest extent of pupillary dilatation and the most severe tremors. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Cohort C would register the lowest values assigned for anxiety, palpitations, hallucinations, insomnia and epigastric pain; and the highest values for mood and cognitive competence. Cohort C would also register the lowest values of clinical variables. Values registered by cohort B will fall in the middle of the values registered by the above two cohorts.

Conclusion.

Energy drinks due cause sympathetic overstimulation which is occasioned by anxiety, palpitations, hallucinations, insomnia and epigastric pain. It also causes cognitive impairment as indicated by decreased cognitive competence and mood instability. Moreover, these drinks do predispose individual to hypertension and neurological dysfunction as occasioned by tremors.

References.

Guyton, A & Hall, J. (2006). Textbook of Medical Physiology (11^th Ed). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders.

Persad, B. (2011). Energy Drinks and the Neurophysiological Impact of Caffeine. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 5(116): 1-8. Print.