Vinke, C (2014) Energy Drink. Master's Thesis / Essay, Biology.
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Abstract
In this demanding world, beverages enhancing cognition and decreasing sleepiness are gaining more and more popularity. Those energy drinks (EDs) contain caffeine, taurine, glucose, vitamins and herbal supplements. Although manufactures claim that EDs have a boosting effect, it is unclear whether those effects are caused by the supplements of EDs only or solely by the effect of caffeine. ED cans of 330 mL contain around 40 – 150 mg of caffeine, which is the same amount of caffeine present in coffee. These doses of caffeine can have a boosting effect on cognition. There is not much evidence about taurine, vitamins and the herbs having a positive or negative effect on the consumers’ body. Mechanisms of those supplements are poorly understood, this essay was established to unravel the effects of EDs and to find the possible mechanisms of the ingredients incorporated in the EDs. The following questions were postulated to give answer about the effect of EDs on brain and heart function, “Could energy drinks have an effect on ageing of the consumers?” and “What is the impact of the contents of energy drinks on the stress response of consumers?”. To answer those questions, a literature search was done by using PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Caffeine seems to have positive effects on brain function; nevertheless at high doses this effect could be reversed. The effect of taurine in EDs has not been studied appropriate but knowing that the blood brain barrier will not let taurine pass it suggests there is no effect on brain function. Glucose on its own could have an effect on the cells of humans but in EDs it has not been reported yet. Well structured studies revealing the mechanisms of all of the ED supplements have to be tested on their own as well as interaction studies between the supplements have to be done. Not only claims could be supported or rejected but also long term effects of EDs on the consumers can be established.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master's Thesis / Essay) |
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| Degree programme: | Biology |
| Thesis type: | Master's Thesis / Essay |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Feb 2018 07:57 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Feb 2018 07:57 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/11706 |
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