Content Analysis of Locally Marketed Energy Drinks: Turkish Market

Abstract

In the Turkish Food Codex Communique on Energy Drinks, energy drinks are defined as "flavored non-alcoholic beverage containing caffeine, containing taurine, glucuronolactone, inositol, carbohydrates, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other food and components". The amount of caffeine in the composition of the energy drink cannot be more than 150 mg/L, inositol 100 mg/L, glucuronolactone 20 mg/L, and taurine 800 mg/L. It has been reported that the consumption of beverages containing caffeine, taurine, and glucuronolactone in healthy young adults increases arterial blood pressure and platelet aggregation and decreases endothelial function. For healthy adults, consuming more than 400 mg of caffeine daily and consuming more than 500 ml of energy drinks in energy drinks, as well as consuming energy drinks with or together with alcohol, is risky and not recommended. Energy drinks are risky for children, people under the age of 18, the elderly, diabetics, those with high blood pressure, pregnant and lactating women, those with metabolic diseases, kidney failure, and people who are sensitive to caffeine. The use of energy drinks has been increasing rapidly in the world and in our country in recent years. Usually, energy drinks are used by young people, athletes, and people who live actively. Energy drinks are also preferred as a pleasure or to increase mental, physical, and cognitive performance.
 The aim of our study is to analyze the components of the content and the effectiveness of the components by making a qualitative analysis with the GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Analysis) device of many energy drinks used in the market. In addition, it is the evaluation of the energy drinks available in the market by examining the effects of the determined substances and their amounts on human health.