(Not so) High Energy Drinks

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(Not so) High Energy Drinks

• Mike LaFontaine, Ph.D.
• Associate Professor
• College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Marian University

2
Why do We Care About Energy Drinks?

• Energy drinks are the fastest growing segment of
  the beverage industry.1
• Energy drinks are a 12,500,000,000 per year
  industry. 1
• There are over 300 brands of energy drinks
  currently on the market.
• Due to the high concentration of stimulants,
  potential hazards exist. 20,000 ER visits
  attributed to consumption. 2

1. US Market Trends 2013 Industry Report
2. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
   Administration

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FDA Regulations for Energy Drinks

• Energy drinks and shots are regulated as dietary
  supplements.
• Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act 1994
• Removed supplements from the food and drug
  umbrella of the FDA.
• Does not require FDA approval to bring to market
  or imply activity.
• Disclaimer statement must be present This
  product has not been evaluated by the FDA. This
  product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure,
  or prevent and disease.

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Evaluation of Dietary Supplements

• Actual Biological role of supplement.
• Does it match the claim?
• What is the bioavailability of the supplement?
• Can it be absorbed and/or incorporated into the
  body to perform this role?
• Is there a need for supplementation?
• Is it readily available through the diet or
  endogenous synthesis in adequate amounts?
• Is there evidence-based research to support
  supplementation?

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Whats (not) in an Energy Drink?

• Energy content is variable.
• Ranges from 0-150 calories per serving (serving
  size 2-12 oz.)
• 12 oz. can of cola typically has 150-180 calories.

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Caffeine

• Caffeine is known for its beneficial effects on
  mental and physical functions. (Red Bull
  Website)
• Caffeine levels range from 280 mg/can (Cocaine)
  to 80 mg/can (Red Bull).
• Very tough to get exact amounts because of the
  use of guarana.
• By comparison, a can of Coke has about 40 mg/can.

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What is Caffeine?

• Caffeine is in a class of derivatives of the
  organic molecule purine called xanthines.
• Often mistaken for theophylline and theobromine.

R1, R2, R3 H Xanthine R1, R2, R3
CH3 Caffeine R1, R2 CH3, R3 H Theobromine R1
H, R2, R3 CH3 Theophylline
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What Does Caffeine Do?

• Inhibitor of adenosine receptors in the brain and
  cAMP phosphodiesterase in muscle.
• Inhibition of adenosine receptors lead to a
  release of epinephrine.
• Increased heart rate.
• Increased activity of liver glycogen
  phosphorylase.
• Interrupted wake/sleep cycles.
• Inhibition of phosphodiesterase leads to
  increased metabolic rate in muscle cells.

Adenosine
cAMP
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Taurine

• Taurine is the second most abundant amino acid
  in muscle fiber. - Eric Serrano, M.D.,
  bodybuilding.com.
• Typically around 500-1000 mg in drinks containing
  taurine.

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What is Taurine

• Taurine is NOT an amino acid, it is an amino
  sulfonate.
• While present in muscle cells, it is NOT a part
  of the proteins that make up the filaments.

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What Does Taurine Do?

• Conjugated with bile acids to make bile salts and
  account for the surfactant properties of bile
  salts.
• No evidence that taurine is involved in energy
  metabolism.
• No evidence that taurine is involved in muscle
  function.

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Creatine

• Claims include increased in muscle mass, boost
  brain function, reduce risk of several
  diseases, and protect skin from aging effects of
  the sun. Muscle and Fitness Magazine
• Not extensively used in energy drinks, 500-1000
  mg/can typically.

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What is Creatine?

• Creatine is a water-soluble, phosphate-transfer
  aid.
• Creatine is synthesized in hepatic tissue from
  arginine and glycine.
• Highest concentrations are found in skeletal
  muscle.

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What Does Creatine Do?

• Creatine phosphate can serve as a source of rapid
  ATP regeneration.

Exercise
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Cell With Creatine Phosphate
Two ADP molecules can rapidly be converted back
to ATP by creatine phosphate.
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Does Creatine Work?

• Creatine supplementation has limited effect on
  creatine levels.
• Dietary intake is significant with a meat-heavy
  diet.
• Endogenous synthesis is adequate with typical
  dietary protein levels.
• No function of creatine has been found to be
  associated with muscle building.
• No immune function of creatine has been
  discovered.
• Since it is not lipid soluble, unlikely to be
  skin protectant.
• Brain function?

1
1. Greenhaff P The Nutritional Biochemistry of
Creatine J. Nutrit Biochem 1997, 11 610-618
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Carnitine

• Claims primarily center around being a fat
  burner.
• Typically less than 1000 mg/can where found in
  energy drinks.
• Usually found in low carb or low calorie
  energy drinks.

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What is Carnitine?

• Carnitine is a water-soluble non-standard amino
  acid.
• Carnitine is synthesized in the liver from lysine.

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What Does Carnitine Do?

• Carnitine is a fatty acid transporter that
  delivers fatty acids to the mitochondria.
• Carnitine is NOT involved in the actual breakdown
  of fatty acids.
• Carnitine-based transport responds to fatty acid
  metabolism, not the other way around.
• Excess intake of carnitine linked to increase
  risk of heart disease.

1
1. Koeth, et al Intestinal Microbiota Metabolism
of L-carnitine, a Nutrient in Red Meat, Promotes
Atherosclerosis Nature Medicine 2013
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B-complex Vitamins

• B-complex vitamins are not chemically related to
  each other.
• All are water-soluble and play a role in energy
  metabolism.
• All are heavily fortified in foods in western
  cultures.
• Typically large amounts found in energy drinks.

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What are B-complex Vitamins?

• Thiamine
• Niacin
• Riboflavin
• Biotin

• Pantothenic Acid
• Pyridoxine (B6)
• Folic Acid
• Cobalamin (B12)

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What Do B-complex Vitamins Do?

• All B-complex vitamins have at least some role in
  energy metabolism.
• Typically as a co-enzyme or enzyme prosthetic
  group.
• Niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, and pyridoxine are
  the most prevalent.
• Biotin, folic acid and cobalamin are utilized
  only in the metabolism of a few types of fats and
  amino acids.

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Sample Energy Drink

• Chaser 5-hour Energy
• Claims 5 hours of Energy
• No Crash Later
• Sugar Free
• Does not rely on caffeine like other energy
  drinks.
• Packed with B-vitamins and enzymes!

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Five Hours of Energy

• 15 calories!
• Walking at 3 mph burns .027 calories per pound
  per minute.
• A 200 pound man burns 324 calories per hour
  WALKING.
• 5-hour Energy provides less than 3 minutes
  worth of calories!

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Does Not Rely on Caffeine

• Caffeine levels is approximately equal to a cup
  of coffee.
• 5-hour energy is only 2 oz.!

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Packed With B-vitamins and Enzymes!

• Most are pancreatic enzymes released into the
  small intestine.
• Cellulase is a fungal enzyme that is involved in
  breaking down cellulose.
• All of these enzymes would be denatured upon
  entry to the stomach.

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Conclusions

• Little if any energy associated with energy
  drinks.
• Energy drinks rely on heavy caffeine to provide a
  stimulant.
• Most other additives are water-soluble compounds
  with little, if any, benefit.
• Strongest attribute of energy drinks has been
  marketing.