Energy drinks, marketed for boosting energy, concentration, and athletic performance, can pose significant cardiovascular risks, including death. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice against caffeine consumption by children and adolescents, the United States remains the least regulated country and should take immediate steps to protect vulnerable populations, leading cardiology researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) urged in a recent commentary in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Victoria L. Vetter, MD, MPH, a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist in the Division of Cardiology and Cardiac Center at CHOP, and Maryam Naim, MD, MSCE, Associate Chief of Research and cardiac intensivist in the Division of Cardiac Critical Care Medicine and Cardiac Center at CHOP, advocated for energy drinks to be controlled on par with other substances impacting youth and at-risk demographics due to their high caffeine content.
In their commentary, Vetter and Naim said energy drinks, which can contain caffeine ranging from 50 to 505 mg per can, significantly higher than the 71 mg limit for soft drinks, have become a major source of caffeine for children and teens. The authors stressed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate energy drinks in the same category as soda and food, emphasizing that the beverages contain inadequate or no specific warning labels about potential dangers to minors or vulnerable populations, including pregnant and breast-feeding women and individuals with cardiac conditions or caffeine sensitivity.
Vetter and Naim also discussed extensive study findings demonstrating that energy drinks, containing high amounts of caffeine and other substances, can cause a range of physiological effects. These include release of neurotransmitters and hormones, which can lead to serious cardiovascular outcomes from associated physiologic changes that can prolong the QTc interval, contribute to hypertension, myocardial infarction, aortic and coronary dissection, cardiomyopathy, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac death, particularly in individuals with underlying health conditions.
The doctors called for further research and recommended that the FDA regulate energy drinks as a food, not a dietary supplement, with transparent labels highlighting caffeine content, detailing potential risks and citing adverse effects. Vetter and Naim also underscored the importance of restricting marketing and sales to minors and creating public-education campaigns geared towards caregivers, families and pediatricians.
“Despite studies showing the negative health impacts of highly caffeinated drinks and other substances, regulatory measures and transparent warnings remain inadequate,” said Vetter, who is also Medical Director of The Youth Heart Watch Program at CHOP. “We must regulate these drinks and educate communities to prevent a public health crisis, particularly with social media marketing targeting youth.”
Vetter et al. “Cardiovascular Toxicity of Energy Drinks in Youth: A Call for Regulation.” Journal of Pediatrics. Online July 31, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114224.n
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Energy drinks, marketed for boosting energy, concentration, and athletic performance, can pose significant cardiovascular risks, including death. Despite the American Academy of Pediatrics’ advice against caffeine consumption by children and adolescents, the United States remains the least regulated country and should take immediate steps to protect vulnerable populations, leading cardiology researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) urged in a recent commentary in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Victoria L. Vetter, MD, MPH, a board-certified cardiologist and electrophysiologist in the Division of Cardiology and Cardiac Center at CHOP, and Maryam Naim, MD, MSCE, Associate Chief of Research and cardiac intensivist in the Division of Cardiac Critical Care Medicine and Cardiac Center at CHOP, advocated for energy drinks to be controlled on par with other substances impacting youth and at-risk demographics due to their high caffeine content.
In their commentary, Vetter and Naim said energy drinks, which can contain caffeine ranging from 50 to 505 mg per can, significantly higher than the 71 mg limit for soft drinks, have become a major source of caffeine for children and teens. The authors stressed that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate energy drinks in the same category as soda and food, emphasizing that the beverages contain inadequate or no specific warning labels about potential dangers to minors or vulnerable populations, including pregnant and breast-feeding women and individuals with cardiac conditions or caffeine sensitivity.
Vetter and Naim also discussed extensive study findings demonstrating that energy drinks, containing high amounts of caffeine and other substances, can cause a range of physiological effects. These include release of neurotransmitters and hormones, which can lead to serious cardiovascular outcomes from associated physiologic changes that can prolong the QTc interval, contribute to hypertension, myocardial infarction, aortic and coronary dissection, cardiomyopathy, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, and even sudden cardiac death, particularly in individuals with underlying health conditions.
The doctors called for further research and recommended that the FDA regulate energy drinks as a food, not a dietary supplement, with transparent labels highlighting caffeine content, detailing potential risks and citing adverse effects. Vetter and Naim also underscored the importance of restricting marketing and sales to minors and creating public-education campaigns geared towards caregivers, families and pediatricians.
“Despite studies showing the negative health impacts of highly caffeinated drinks and other substances, regulatory measures and transparent warnings remain inadequate,” said Vetter, who is also Medical Director of The Youth Heart Watch Program at CHOP. “We must regulate these drinks and educate communities to prevent a public health crisis, particularly with social media marketing targeting youth.”
Vetter et al. “Cardiovascular Toxicity of Energy Drinks in Youth: A Call for Regulation.” Journal of Pediatrics. Online July 31, 2024. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114224.n
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