Energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine.Photo:Getty
Getty
Children who consume energy drinks may be more likely to developADHD,anxiety, anddepression— and in the United States, there are no age restrictions on purchasing these drinks.
“Negative mental outcomes” were associated with energy drink consumption among children, according to a research study published inScience Direct.
“Consumption was related to increased ADHD inattention, conduct disorder, depressive and panic symptoms,” the study said. “Regular ED consumption was also associated with emotional difficulties and lower levels of well-being.”
That include some dire findings, as the study reported “frequent ED intake was associated with suicide attempts and severe stress.”
“There were also higher rates of suicide ideation and attempts” among those who drank more than one energy drink a day.
The purchase of energy drinks isn’t restricted in the U.S.Getty
The study points to the high caffeine and sugar content in most energy drinks.
Logan Paul— a YouTube star that’s popular with children and teens — recently released his own brand of energy drink, PRIME. Although it was not specifically named in the study, ithas come under firefor the amount of caffeine in it: A 12 oz. can of PRIME Energy contains 200mg of caffeine, compared to the 34mg found in a 12 oz. Coca Cola and Red Bull’s 80mg in a standard 8.4 oz.
In a statement to PEOPLE, PRIME defended the amount of caffeine in their energy drinks and stressed it is “not made for anyone under the age of 18.”
PRIME energy drink from Logan Paul.Jeff Chiu/AP
Jeff Chiu/AP
“PRIME Energy, sold in a can, dropped in 2023 and contains a comparable amount of caffeine to other top selling energy drinks, all falling within the legal limit of the countries it’s sold in,” a spokesperson for the brand told PEOPLE in July 2023. “It complied with all FDA guidelines before hitting the market and states clearly on packaging, as well as in marketing materials, that it is an energy drink and is not made for anyone under the age of 18.”
While PRIME is not recommended for those under 18, it’s not illegal for teens to purchase it, or other similar drinks — like the “charged lemonade” sold at Panera, which was also not specifically named in the study.
A large serving of Panera’s “charged lemonade” has 390mg of caffeine, andone family sued Panera, claiming their daughter, 21, who had a heart condition, died after drinking the lemonade.
“The changes in a young brain…are significant when you’re exposed to this type of thing,” ABC News chief medical correspondentDr. Jen Ashton said, advising that children should really just be drinking water.
She added, “Remember that if you’re looking for some energy from a beverage, you really should be looking at what else in your life is sapping that energy.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
source: people.com
