Energy drinks usually contain a lot of of caffeine, sugar, usually taurine [used to prevent oxidative stress induced by exercise 30, and to enhance weight loss (2) and to reduce anxiety levels, (3)], B-vitamins, ginseng, inositol [preliminary results exist that it can be effective in treating depression, and panic attacks, (4)], an anti-oxidant carnitine, and Guarana, rich in caffein.

The drinks are marketed to students, athletes, and career-oriented, hard-working young people (5).  Recent reports are troubling since they showed that these drinks may be cause abnormalities in brain blood vessels (6), maniacal conditions, and even death (8). Such ingredient as caffeine is known to cause seizures, especially in the sleep-deprived state, which is often the reason to buy an energy drink (7).

Researchers from St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, reported cases  of adult patients with seizures, always in association with over-consumption of energy drinks. These patients had no brain or EEG abnormalities and never had seizures without energy drink consumption (9).

References