Grandpa’s little helpers

“Grandpa’s little helpers” was a very interesting article recently printed in the Globe and Mail. It describes how savvy marketers are now targeting the Baby Boom generation for their pocket-sized energy drinks. According to the article, companies are claiming that “those who drink them will be amped up for hours… (it is) the youthful tonic when coffee just isn’t enough.”

But are these drinks really safe for older adults? Well, there are several points to consider. First of all, large amounts of caffeine (even from natural sources such as yerba mate and guarana primarily used in these drinks) can cause problematic side effects such as restlessness, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia and gastrointestinal disturbances. In fact, Health Canada recommends that adults limit their caffeine intake to no more than 400mg per day for this very reason.

How much caffeine is in a typical energy drink? Well, it’s difficult to know exactly. Labelling for energy drinks is not the same as it is for foods and beverages in Canada. You won’t find a “Nutrition Facts” section on the label because it is classified by Health Canada as a “Natural Health Product.” Manufacturers simply have to declare that there is a source of caffeine in the product but do not have to declare how much. It is said that on average, there is approximately 200mg per bottle. When you consider that 63 percent of Canadians already consume most of their daily caffeine allowance in coffee, exceeding 400mg per day would be very easy to do.

Another issue with these drinks is that they can often contain amino acids, herbal supplements or vitamins. These may have unknown effects on an individual or could possibly even result in a potentially harmful medication interactions.

So based on the current evidence, the old adage of everything in moderation may apply but buyer beware…until labelling regulations become more specific about the amount of caffeine in the product and until there is more research available on the herbal supplements, vitamins and amino acids added to these drinks, it may not be worth the risk to your health.

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References – All reference information taken from Dietitians of Canada “Practice Based Evidence” website. Detailed reference list as follows:

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