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August 17, 2010: 11:40 AM EST
Better athletic performance and weight loss are frequently promised health benefits of popular energy drinks, but those claims don’t always hold up, a U.S. study has found. Energy drinks are often packed with caffeine, taurine, sucrose, guarana, ginseng, niacin, pyridoxine and cyanocobalamin. But most of the performance-enhancing effects come from the caffeine, which has been shown to boost aerobic performance. As to weight loss, the evidence is mixed. Some data indicate that consuming energy drink and exercising reduces body fat, but the results decline as the body gets used to the caffeine. The high sugar content may be contributing to the obesity epidemic. In addition, because energy drinks are classed as dietary supplements, they avoid the caffeine limits placed on foods and soft drinks, leading to some adverse side effects.
Stephanie L. Ballard, Jennifer J. Wellborn-Kim, Kevin A. Clauson, "Effects Of Commercial Energy Drink Consumption On Athletic Performance And Body Composition: A Review of Use and Safety for Athletes", The Physician and Sportsmedicine, August 17, 2010, © JTE Multimedia
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