Although the dangers of energy drinks to adults and teens have been widely reported, a new study reveals that 40 percent of calls to U.S. poison control centers involved children under the age of 6. The study, presented Nov. 16 at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2014, found that in the most serious cases, children who consumed the drinks suffered abnormal heart rhythms and seizures.
“You normally think of teens and young adults as most likely to drink [energy beverages], but we found that half of the calls to U.S. poison control centers involved unintentional exposures by children less than 6 years old,” study presenter Steven Lipshultz, MD, professor and chair of pediatrics at Wayne State University and pediatrician-in-chief at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit, told the Chicago Tribune. The real danger, he added, is to kids with existing conditions such as heart disease or seizure disorders.
For the study, Lipshultz and his colleagues analyzed records from the American Association of Poison Control Centers’ National Poison Data System. Of the more than 5,000 cases of energy drink exposure reported from 2010 to 2013, 40 percent involved accidental consumption by children under 6. Most often, explained Lipshultz, the child finds the drink in the refrigerator and consumes it, with potentially life-threatening consequences.
According to an American Heart Association news release, energy drinks contain pharmaceutical-grade caffeine and additional caffeine from natural sources that can cause the heart to race and raise blood pressure. Some energy drinks contain up to 400 mg of caffeine per can or bottle, compared to 100 mg to 150 mg in a cup of coffee.
Caffeine poisoning can occur at levels of 400 mg a day in adults; above 100 mg a day in adolescents; and at 2.4 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight in children under the age of 6.
Of special concern is that the study’s numbers are underestimated because many people who become ill do not call the poison hotlines and emergency room visits were not included the research. “The reported data
probably represents the tip of the iceberg,” said Lipshultz in the news release.
The findings underscore the need for improved labeling of caffeine content and the health consequences of consuming energy drinks, the researchers said. In addition, they called for greater vigilance in assuring children do not have access to the drinks.
“This has no place in the diet of children and teenagers. And it shouldn’t be marketed at all to those under 18,” Lipshultz told the Chicago Tribune. “If the goal is to protect the public health, then these should be regulated similar to tobacco, alcohol and driving, so you have fewer kids winding up in the hospital or intensive care.”
Credit : Dr. Rahul Bhargava (Bone Marrow Transplant Specialist, Hematologist, Hemato Oncologist- 15 Years of Experience)
