Abstract
BackgroundGlobally, young adults and college athletes are primary targets of the marketing campaigns of energy drink companies. Consequently, it is reported that young adults and college athletes consume energy drinks frequently. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of energy drink consumption among student-athletes selected from seven public universities in Ghana. The study assessed the energy drink consumption patterns, types usually consumed, frequency of consumption and reasons why athletes consumed energy drinks.MethodsA total number of 180 student-athletes gave their consent to participate in the study and completed a questionnaire which was administered during an inter-university sports competition.ResultsMost of the participants (62.2%) reported consuming at least one can of energy drink in a week. A high proportion (53.6%) of the respondents who drink energy drinks indicated that they did so to replenish lost energy after training or a competition. Other reasons given as to why energy drinks were consumed by the study participants included to provide energy and fluids to the body (25.9%), to improve performance (9.8%) and to reduce fatigue (5.4%).ConclusionThese results suggest the need to plan health education programmes to particularly correct some wrong perceptions that athletes have regarding the benefits of energy drinks and also create awareness among student-athletes about the side effects of excessive intake of energy drinks.
Highlights
Young adults and college athletes are primary targets of the marketing campaigns of energy drink companies
Conclusions and suggestions for further study Consumption of energy drinks is a popular practice among university student-athletes in Ghana, as 62.2% of the study participants reported that they drank at least a can of energy drink in the week prior to the study
Most of the student-athletes who drank energy drinks indicated that the main reason why they drank energy drinks was to help replenish lost energy
Summary
Young adults and college athletes are primary targets of the marketing campaigns of energy drink companies. It is reported that young adults and college athletes consume energy drinks frequently. Caffeine concentrations may range from 70 to 80 milligrams per 8 ounce serving, about three to five times the concentration in cola This has been found to have detrimental health consequences [5]. Riesenhuber et al [6] reported that caffeine in energy drinks promotes natriuresis. It acts as a diuretic agent, resulting in greater fluid losses. 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 has harmful health consequences as well [1]. 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]
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