Energy drinks may pose risks to young brains, according to new research.
People who consume energy drinks intended to boost energy using caffeine and other stimulants may experience mental health problems such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. was shown to be at high risk.
These findings are based on a review by Hughes, the Public Health Translational Research Center at Teesside University and Newcastle University in the UK.
In the review, published in the journal Public Health, researchers looked at data from 57 studies involving more than 1.2 million children and adolescents from more than 21 countries who consumed energy drinks.
Researchers conducted this review as a follow-up to their first review in 2016.
“We found an even longer list of mental and physical health effects associated with energy drink consumption in children and young people,” said lead author and Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Teesside University. one Amelia Lake told FOX News Digital.
“We repeated [the review] We just discovered that there is a growing body of clear evidence suggesting that consumption of these drinks is associated with negative health effects. ”
Studies show that the caffeine content of energy drinks ranges from 50mg to 505mg per serving, compared to 90mg in 8.45oz of coffee, 50mg in 8.45oz of black tea, and 34mg in 16.9oz of soda. they pointed out.
Based on the findings, researchers and other UK health organizations are calling on the government to ban the sale of energy drinks to children under 16.
“This evidence shows there is no place for energy drinks in the diets of children and young people,” Lake said.
“Policymakers should follow the example of countries that have established age restrictions on sales to children.”
Experts give their opinions
Erin Palinsky Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian who was not involved in the study, said she was not surprised by the results.
“Energy drinks are not a safe option for children, and there are no established safe guidelines for caffeine consumption for those under 18,” she told FOX News Digital.
Caffeine has a half-life of 6 to 8 hours, she noted. This means that it takes that long for caffeine to be eliminated from your body.
“Even small amounts of caffeine can affect the quality and quantity of sleep, and sleep deprivation is directly correlated with poorer mental and physical health in adults and children,” Palinski-Wade said. points out.
“Lack of quality sleep can impair cognitive functions such as decision-making, conflict resolution, working memory, and learning, change behavior and mood, and increase the risk of depression.”
Lack of sleep can also negatively impact children’s brain development, leading to learning disabilities and increased negative emotions, he added.
“Sleep deprivation can also affect memory and concentration, making academic performance difficult, especially when sleep is chronically interrupted,” the experts said.
