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“Background The term “”energy drink”" refers to soft LY3009104 drinks believed to reduce or prevent fatigue, enhance physical performance, enhance disposition and improve cognitive performance [1]. Energy drinks are frequently consumed by athletes

prior to competitions with a view to improving their performance [2]. The belief in energy drinks is held by most athletes, selleck chemical particularly because the term “”energy drink”" conveys a message that the product has a connection with physical activity. Consequently, an uninformed consumer may assume that some benefits would be derived after consuming these beverages [3]. Paddock [3] indicated that the drive to improve athletic performance and exhibit one’s athletic identity could influence student-athletes in particular to consume energy drinks at a relatively higher level than the student population in general. Most energy drinks contain whopping quantities of sugar (up to a quarter of a cup per can) and caffeine, the main active ingredient, although other substances such as taurine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, nicotinamide, B vitamins, and various stimulating herbal derivatives (guarana, ginseng and ginkgo biloba) may be present [4]. The typical high sugar

content (usually approximately 9% or 10%) does not only make energy SCH727965 in vivo drinks more calorific but also impedes fluid absorption and may lead to abdominal cramping. Caffeine concentrations may range from 70 to 80 milligrams per 8 ounce serving, about three to five times the concentration in cola. However, this has been found to have detrimental health consequences [5]. For instance, Riesenhuber Sitaxentan et al. [6] reported that caffeine in energy drinks promotes natriuresis. It also acts as a diuretic agent, resulting in greater fluid losses. Another study revealed that high intakes of caffeine reduces insulin sensitivity [7] and raises the mean arterial blood pressure level of the body [8]. In sum, although

caffeine, a component in most energy drinks, provides the consumer with desirable effects such as increased alertness and improved memory, and enhances a person’s mood, caffeine also has harmful health consequences as well [1]. For example, energy drinks – such as Red Bull, Lucozade, Rox, Blue Jeans, Gluconade and Burn have become ubiquitous in shops on university campuses. Most athletes consume energy drinks with the hope of obtaining energy, although there is no scientific confirmation of the ergogenic effectiveness of energy drinks [9]. However, one experimental study found out that an intake of energy drinks, compared with a placebo, had energizing effects which were strongest 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, and which were sustained for at least 90 minutes [10].