Energy Drinks: An Assessment of the Potential Health Risks in the Canadian Context

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to develop a health risk assessment on energy drinks, based on health hazard and exposure assessments when consumed as a food in Canada. In this document, a typical energy drink is exemplified by the product known as Red Bull, where a single can serving of 250 ml contains 80 mg of caffeine, 1000 mg of taurine, 600 mg of glucuronolactone and several B vitamins. Health hazard data on energy drinks were found to be limited and therefore the hazard assessment was based on individual ingredients. Caffeine was identified as the ingredient with the greatest potential for intakes of possible health concern. On this basis, excess consumption of energy drinks would be expected to result in health consequences similar to those from excess exposure to caffeine. The more mild and transient health consequences could include anxiety, headache and insomnia and these health consequences can become chronic conditions. More severe health consequences may include irregular heartbeat, heart attack and, very rarely, death. Currently, the potential for taurine and glucuronolactone to interact with caffeine is unknown and therefore they may or may not exacerbate the effects of caffeine. In addition, the health effects of excessive intake of taurine and glucuronolactone are also unknown. The health hazard assessment concluded that the general adult