But I still defend energy drinks.
My hospitalization was due to too much caffeine that exacerbated a pre-existing bout of pericarditis-- the actual cause was most likely an infection or cold.
The individual ingredients of an energy drink have no proven ill effects:
- Carbonated Water - Completely Neutral. It might harm your teeth but the evidence is related to sugar + carbonated water
- Glucose - Major energy source
- Citric Acid - Needed for Krebs Cycle
- Taurine - Essential amino acid that has benefits for heart and blood
- Sodium Citrate - flavoring, used for kidneys and is an antacid
- Panax Ginseng - amazing supplement; good for mood, immunity, cognition
- Caffeine - good in moderation, bad in excess - Sorbic Acid - preservative with no adverse health effects
- Sucralose - sweetener with no proven side-effects. Chronic effects occur on a dosage above 9 mg/kg
- Benzoic Acid - preservative that naturally occurs in berries. Stay under 5 mg/kg
- L-Carintine - wonderful little supplement that is good for you, potential nootropic
- Niacinamide - vitamin B3
- Acesulfame Potassium - sweetener, potential carcinogen although studies lack confidence
- Sodium Chloride - table salt
- Glucuronolactone - aids circulation, is good for your heart
- Inositol - good for you, prevents colon cancer, sold as a supplement
- Guarana Seed - caffeine source, aids memory and physical endurance
- Pyridoxine HCL - vitamin B6
- Riboflavin - found in your wheaties
- Maltodextrin - starch, no known health issues
- Cyanocobalamin - vitamin B12
Beyond that, there may be a dangerous interaction between two ingredients that has yet to be nailed down.
I have another theory-- the devil's in the dosage.
I can take down a pot of coffee if I have a good night's rest, but if I am up before 7 and have a single cup, it does not go well for me. This could be related to how caffeine interacts with existing cortisol levels, and if I am stressed and not well rested the effects are amplified.
This is probably why it's so hard to figure out an accurate lethal dose of caffeine, because small changes in biochemistry can significantly amplify how your body acts with caffeine.
I would also (weakly) argue that why we don't see many overdoses with coffee is because you don't start drinking large amounts of coffee on the first go-- because the substance is bitter, it is hard to down a full pot in one sitting.
Due to a built in taste moderation, it is hard to hit your natural upper limit. But because energy drinks are sweet and easily drinkable, novice caffeine users can hit their upper limit in a short amount of time.
And because the half-life of caffeine ranges from 5 hours to 15 hours (!) you can get a strong excess build up in your body in a quick amount of time. There may be an ingredient in the drinks that increase the half-life, which leads to higher risks over time.