In general, the evidence correlates EDs with a significant increase in the odds of insomnia (and jitteriness/activeness), anxiety, depression, impulsivity and poor academic performance, among others. There is a global growing concern about the potential risks and the existing low-risk perception associated with these drinks. Recent studies report that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, not only has the frequency of the consumption of EDs increased but also the amount ingested, which was probably due in part to the need to cope with stress, boredom and the desire to improve attention when using screens and playing video games.

The Spanish Survey on Drug Use in Secondary Schools (ESTUDES) estimates the prevalence of EDs use among students at 50.7% and 39% for young males and females, respectively. Almost 12% of all adult Europeans (13.3% of “young adults”) described themselves as regular consumers, drinking EDs 4–5 times a week or more and consuming a mean average volume of 4–5 L/month. ĮDs consumption was estimated to be at 30% in European adults (18–65 years 16% corresponding to chronic consumers) and at 68% in European adolescents (10–18 years 10% classified as chronic consumers).

The European FoodEx2 classification classifies EDs in the non-alcoholic functional drinks category. The consumption of EDs has considerably increased worldwide, especially among male adolescents and young adults. The energy drinks (EDs) market is estimated to be 1% of the non-alcoholic drinks market and this may be attributed to the well-thought-out design process in the food industry. In conclusion, the management of these risks requires a European legal framework for EDs with maximum limits for the active components, volume size limitations and labeling improvements along with the development of education and awareness programs and risk communication actions in collaboration with the industry and society. A taurine exposure from EDs varied from 1000 to 2000 mg (12.5–50 mg/kg b.w.) and consumptions over 500 mL were estimated to generate intakes above the reference value. As D-glucuronolactone MOS ≥ 100 is only observed when EDs consumption is limited to 250 mL, for individuals weighing above 60 kg, some risks were observed in some of the studied scenarios. Dietary exposure to D-glucuronolactone from EDs ranged from 600 to 1200 mg (7.5–30 mg/kg b.w.). consumers to 175, 262.5 and 350 mL, respectively, to prevent sleep disturbances and to 375, 562.5 and 750 mL to prevent general caffeine adverse health risks, respectively. While the exposure assessment results showed that caffeine intakes from EDs ranged from 80 to 160 mg (1.14–4 mg/kg b.w.) for the considered scenarios, the risk characterization estimated some risks that could be managed with consumption recommendations such as limiting EDs in 40, 60 and 80 kg b.w. This study aims to assess the exposures to caffeine, taurine and D-glucuronolactone from EDs in various consumption scenarios and consumer profiles and to characterize the risks by evaluating caffeine and taurine intakes with their reference values and by calculating the margin of safety (MOS) for D-glucuronolactone. Caffeine (generally 32 mg/100 mL) together with a wide variety of other active components such as taurine (usually 4000 mg/L) and D-glucuronolactone (generally 2400 mg/L) are the main ingredients of EDs. The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) is increasing globally while the evidence and concern about the potential health risks are also growing.

Energy rush with taurine caffeine