title: Relaxation drinks and their use in adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A new class of beverages called relaxation drinks advertises calming effects and an easy way to wind down when life gets stressful. This article examines these drinks in the context of their use in adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  A review of the literature relevant to relaxation drinks and their functional ingredients was conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The beverages contain ingredients such as melatonin, valerian, kava, tryptophan, and other products traditionally thought to play a role in sleep, sedation, or neurocognitive function. Studies of the efficacy and safety of these supplements are limited and many have significant methodological limitations. Despite appropriate warnings placed on the labels of relaxation drinks, marketing is cleverly designed to appeal to young consumers and often evokes the experiences produced by alcohol and drug use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although moderate consumption of these beverages by healthy individuals is likely safe, an objective reduction in stress is improbable and associated adverse effects are possible.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Uxbridge, Massachusetts 01569, USA. sylvie.stacy@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stacy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D001628:Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing / Q000379:methods; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012063:Relaxation
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs