C AFFEINE E XPERTS AT J OHNS H OPKINS C ALL FOR W ARNING L ABELS ON E NERGY D RINKS AED Medicine in the News

Energy drink advertising campaigns primarily target teens and young adults. In a 2007 survey of 496 college students, 51% reported consuming at least one energy drink during the last month.

C AFFEINE L IMITATIONS A regular 12 oz. soda contains about 35 mg of caffeine and a 6oz. cup of coffee contains mg of caffeine. The FDA limits the amount of caffeine in soft drinks to 0.02%, or 71mg/ 12 fluid oz. In comparison the amount of caffeine in energy drinks ranges from 50mg per can or bottle to an astounding 505 mg per can or bottle, which is equivalent to 14 cans of soda. Energy drink manufacturers avoid the FDA caffeine limits by claiming that their products fall under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act, which classifies products deriving from herbs and natural sources as dietary supplements rather than drugs.

C AFFEINE L EVELS IN P OPULAR E NERGY D RINKS  Red Bull: 80 mg  Monster: 160mg  Rockstar: 160 mg  Amp: 75 mg  Full Throttle: 144 mg  Vitamin Water: 50 mg

C AFFEINE H EALTH R ISKS o Caffeine amounts are often unlabeled on energy drinks and few include warnings about the potential health risks which can include: -Caffeine intoxication: symptoms include nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, tachycardia, and in rare cases death. The symptoms of caffeine intoxication can mimic those of anxiety and other mood disorders. -Consumption of energy drinks has also been linked to seizures, acute mania and stroke.

THE US, WHO HAS THE HIGHEST MARKET FOR THESE PRODUCTS, HAS THE MOST LAX REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS REGARDING CONTENT LABELING AND HEALTH WARNINGS. E XPERTS AT J OHNS H OPKINS ASK FOR LABELING REQUIREMENTS THAT ARE MORE STRICTLY ENFORCED SO THAT CONSUMERS ARE ADEQUATELY INFORMED OF THEIR CAFFEINE CONTENT AND HEALTH RISKS. Conclusion