Abstract
Background: This study aimed to investigate the consumption of energy drinks and associated factors among undergraduate students in Taiwan. Methods: Data came from a cross-sectional survey conducted in 2015. Eligible participants completed a self-administered questionnaire assessing use and perceptions of energy drinks, tobacco, alcohol, and betel nut. Results: Among 606 surveyed undergraduate students, 24.8% reported consuming energy drinks in the past 30 days. The major reasons for use included keeping alert at work (48.7%), being curious about the products (32.0%), enjoying the flavor (31.3%), or preparing for school exams (26.7%). Among energy drink users, half have never read the nutrition label, and 15.3% reported that they had ever mixed energy drinks with alcohol. Most participants showed negative attitudes toward using tobacco, alcohol, or betel nut, while 54.1% reported positive attitudes toward consuming energy drinks. Being male, living away from parents’ home, tobacco use, alcohol use, and positive perceptions of energy drink’s effects significantly predicted energy drink consumption. Conclusions: In addition to exploring motivations of energy drink consumption in undergraduate students in Taiwan, the study findings indicated that energy drink consumption might relate to the use of tobacco and alcohol, which should be taken into account in substance use prevention programs.
Highlights
Caffeinated energy drinks (EDs) may contain high amounts of caffeine, which may cause adverse health effects, such as the increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and poor sleep quality [1,2,3].Adverse cardiovascular events have been reported after ingestion of EDs or caffeine overdose [4,5].the combined use of caffeine and alcohol, which is trendy among young adults in certain countries, may be linked to increased risk of excessive drinking or accident events [6,7,8]
Possible adverse health effects have been documented in the literature, the safety of using ED products could be overlooked by the lay population
ED users had higher BMI compared to non-users
Summary
Caffeinated energy drinks (EDs) may contain high amounts of caffeine, which may cause adverse health effects, such as the increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and poor sleep quality [1,2,3].Adverse cardiovascular events have been reported after ingestion of EDs or caffeine overdose [4,5].the combined use of caffeine and alcohol, which is trendy among young adults in certain countries, may be linked to increased risk of excessive drinking or accident events [6,7,8]. Possible adverse health effects have been documented in the literature, the safety of using ED products could be overlooked by the lay population. This issue is alarming in vulnerable groups, including children and adolescents. Most participants showed negative attitudes toward using tobacco, alcohol, or betel nut, while 54.1% reported positive attitudes toward consuming energy drinks. Conclusions: In addition to exploring motivations of energy drink consumption in undergraduate students in Taiwan, the study findings indicated that energy drink consumption might relate to the use of tobacco and alcohol, which should be taken into account in substance use prevention programs
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