title: Energy drink consumption and impact on caffeine risk.
abstract: The impact of caffeine from energy drinks occurs against a background exposure from naturally occurring caffeine (coffee, tea, cocoa and foods containing these ingredients) and caffeinated beverages (kola-type soft drinks). Background caffeine exposure, excluding energy drinks, was assessed for six New Zealand population groups aged 15 years and over (n = 4503) by combining concentration data for 53 caffeine-containing foods with consumption information from the 2008/09 New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey (ANS). Caffeine exposure for those who consumed energy drinks (n = 138) was similarly assessed, with inclusion of energy drinks. Forty-seven energy drink products were identified on the New Zealand market in 2010. Product volumes ranged from 30 to 600 ml per unit, resulting in exposures of 10-300 mg caffeine per retail unit consumed. A small percentage, 3.1%, of New Zealanders reported consuming energy drinks, with most energy drink consumers (110/138) drinking one serving per 24 h. The maximum number of energy drinks consumed per 24 h was 14 (total caffeine of 390 mg). A high degree of brand loyalty was evident. Since only a minor proportion of New Zealanders reported consuming energy drinks, a greater number of New Zealanders exceeded a potentially adverse effect level (AEL) of 3 mg kg(-1) bw day(-1) for caffeine from caffeine-containing foods than from energy drinks. Energy drink consumption is not a risk at a population level because of the low prevalence of consumption. At an individual level, however, teenagers, adults (20-64 years) and females (16-44 years) were more likely to exceed the AEL by consuming energy drinks in combination with caffeine-containing foods.
authors.affiliation: a ESR Ltd, Food Group , Christchurch , New Zealand.
authors.forename: Barbara M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Donald M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cressey
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Beverley
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Horn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001628:Beverages / Q000032:analysis*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry*; D061215:Energy Drinks / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine
keywords: caffeine; coffee; energy drink; exposure; impact; risk