The Hidden Health Danger Served in a Can

Gary Lee Allen

Clinical Educational Fulfillment for College Hospital

Abstract

This paper will present relevant clinical findings that will inform the reader on the vast array of

over the counter products available for consumption that can impair neurological and cognitive

function. These products not only include Herbal dietary supplements but also liquid energy

drinks. That the products listed within are not only legal not regulated by the Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) but could potentially harm you. Included will be relevant information on

the drugs they contain their potential interaction and how the consumer can be informed and

potentially avoid a harmful reaction.

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The Hidden Health Danger Served in a Can

Most people don’t take a second look at the label of the food products they buy at the

Grocery store or Convenience shop. Even if they do most consumers will glance only at the

calorie count or maybe the salt content but what about the other ingredients. There are

ingredients that have no reference in dietary guidelines. Most people look at a can of soda and

can see that it has 35mg of caffeine and 120mg of salt looking across the label you can see that is

9% or RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for salt, but what is the RDA for Caffeine? The

simple answer is there is none. While one 12-ounce can of soft drink contains 35milligrams of

caffeine some over the counter energy drinks contain over 500mg of caffeine. This is only part

of the problem there are a myriad of herbal supplants added to these drinks that boost the

effectiveness of the caffeine primarily the following herbs Guarana, Taurine, Ginsing, and

Carnitine. All of these herbs are labeled as supplements and are not regulated by the FDA yet all

have mind & body altering properties.

Caffeine

The principle ingredient in all energy drinks is a common stimulant that has been around

for centuries and readily consumed by the majority of the population. Yet energy drink

production has become a $2.5 billion in the United States, according to a 2008 report in Fortune

magazine, and it has grown 700% since 2000, earning manufacturers millions of dollars (K.

Brenner, Fortune 2008). Caffeine intoxication is a recognized clinical syndrome that is also

included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. It is also listed in the

World Health Organization's (WHO) International Classification of Diseases. Caffeine

intoxication is marked by nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, paranoia, insomnia, gastrointestinal

upset, tremors, tachycardia, and psychomotor agitation and in rare cases, death. (John Hopkins,

2008). Levels of caffeine required to achieve intoxication varies between individuals but some

factors are known these include Body Mass Index (BMI), Sex, Age, Medications( these include

prescription and herbal/ illicit). These factors can inhibit or enhance the effects of Caffeine but

lead researcher Roland Griffiths a Professor of behavioral biology at John Hopkins University in

Baltimore states that intoxication can occur with 500mg and life threatening levels at two grams.

Herbs

Many herbal supplements are available for purchase without a prescription to anyone

regardless or age and all are unregulated by the FDA. Herbs fall into two categories. One of

them is Herbal Supplements Herbs refined and processed into pill form to be taken as one would

take prescription medication for a certain condition. A good example would be Garlic. Garlic is

a natural food that is commonly used in cooking and garnishing meals. Its reported benefit is that

consumption of Garlic has reported lowering of cholesterol levels. Yet the Herbal supplement

version is a processed form that has the concentration of 20 cloves of garlic in one pill, so that

one does not need to consume 20 cloves but only take one pill to achieve the benefit. The other

category is that of nutritional supplements this is the label that the FDA uses. Primarily we will

focus on the following “nutritional supplements” Guarana, Taurine, Ginsing, and Carnitine.

Each has its own effects on the human body and we will explore each individually on how it

affects the body & mind.

Guarana

Guarana is a climbing plant in the native to the Amazon basin and especially common in

Brazil. Each fruit has a berry that has five times as much caffeine as a coffee bean of the same

size. Its use is as a supplement to energy drinks and weight loss products. As such they have

been known to interact with other stimulants in a synergistic manner (Sood A. 2008). Reports of

use with this herbal supplement are the same as those with caffeine. It is especially advised that

those with blood pressure or cardiac conditions abstain from this supplement (Kalus, J 2007) as

cardiac arrhythmias have been reported with caffeine intoxication.

Taurine

Taurine, or 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, is an organic acid. It is primarily synthesized in a

laboratory so is not truly a herb but falls into the nutritional supplement category as it is a major

constituent of bile and can be found in the lower intestine and in small amounts in the tissues of

many animals and in humans as well. Although the amounts used in Energy drinks are greater

than that which the body normally produces. Taurine crosses the blood brain barrier easily and

has been shown to bind with several drugs and supplements causing increases in blood pressure

(Dorsey Griffith, 2008)

References

Amit Sood,  Richa Sood,  Francis J Brinker,  Ravneet Mann,  Laura L Loehrer,  Dietlind L

Wahner-Roedler. (2008). Potential for Interactions Between Dietary Supplements and

Prescription Medications. The American Journal of Medicine, 121(3), 207. 

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions; Caffeine experts at Johns Hopkins call for warning

labels for energy drinks. (2008, October). NewsRx Health & Science,126. 

Beware: Red Bull 'can kill’: [Final 3 Edition]. (2007, November 7). The Sun,p. 21. By

James Kalus Lead Researcher US Heart Association conference in Orlando, Florida

Red alert on energy drinks: [La Times Health]. (2008, September 1) Special to The Times

By Dr. Rahul K. Parikh

Monster Growth: [Fortune Magazine]. (2008, August 1) Fortune Magazine online By

Kattie Benner writer-reporter

Dorsey Griffith (2008, May 11). High-caffeine controversy School, health officials worry

as bad reactions send kids to hospital. The Sacramento Bee