Mattei and colleagues from Harvard University published a mini-review on energy drinks and associated public health concerns. The consumption of energy drinks has risen dramatically in recent years and there is some concern that effective marketing and perceived benefits, may be minimising possible associated risks. Most energy drinks contain similar ingredients including sugar, high-dose caffeine, stimulants such as ginseng/guarana/L-carnitine as well as vitamins and minerals.

Energy drinks can have short-term benefits in terms of improving alertness, muscle strength and stamina; and ameliorating fatigue. A number of studies have also identified negative health effects such as tachycardia, raised BP, an increase in risk-seeking behaviours, anxiety, depression and unfavourable metabolic effects amongst others.

The authors have raised concerns about the aggressive marketing of these drinks to teenagers, the lack of regulation of caffeine content in “supplements” as opposed to sodas and the trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol which tends to mask signs of inebriation. They suggest that higher quality evidence is needed on the health effects of energy drinks in mixed populations and that education of consumers is also needed.