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News ReleasesPalmetto Health Children’s Hospital Reminds Parents that Energy Drinks May Cause Harmful Side Effects for Children and Teens Especially During Summer Months07/06/2010 Many children and teens are choosing energy drinks as part of their daily diet. Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital reminds parents that these beverages might not be the best option for children and teens and can cause harmful effects especially in summer months. Beverages marketed as energy drinks can contain excessive amounts of caffeine and other stimulants, which could be very harmful to a child. A typical cup of coffee has about 100 mg. of caffeine, while a caffeinated soft drink contains approximately 40 mg of caffeine. In comparison, most popular energy drinks contain between 200 and 500 mgs. of caffeine. Because these stimulant drinks are largely unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it is not possible to know the exact quantities of caffeine and other ingredients used and the effects they may cause. Dr. Mark McDonald, M.D., a pediatric critical care intensivist at Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital says, “A child may mistakenly drink these beverages for hydration, but could end up ingesting significant amounts of caffeine. This may be detrimental to their health during intense exercise, especially during the summer,” Energy drinks, although packaged in smaller cans and bottles than regular soft drinks, often are concentrated with stimulants. Teens may ingest these drinks without realizing the potential danger. Even mild caffeine toxicity can cause nausea, vomiting, hypertension, accelerated heartbeat and tremors. McDonald advises, “My recommendation is that parents do not allow their children to use these stimulant containing energy drinks because there are safer alternatives.” Herbal teas and weight loss products also can be harmful to children. “Most over the counter weight loss products are not regulated by the FDA. Many contain stimulants. Teenagers have used these as recreational drugs. A common stimulant previously used in weight loss pills was ephedra. Evidence of heart problems led to ephedra being banned by the FDA. Even herbal weight loss products can be dangerous. They should be well-researched and discussed with your physician prior to use,” says Dr. McDonald. # # # # # |
