Energy drink consumption among pre-clinical medical students attending a public medical school in Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Objective: It has been reported that energy drink usage is increasing worldwide despite reports of severe adverse health effects. This study aimed to explore pre-clinical medical students’ attitudes and perceptions in relation to energy drinks. Materials and Methods: This was a questionnaire-based descriptive study of pre-clinical medical students attending a public medical school in Istanbul, Turkey. Questions covered the students’ sociodemographic characteristics, personal habits (e.g., smoking and alcohol consumption), energy drink perceptions and energy drink consumption, and their experience of side effects from energy drinks. Chi-square tests were used to compare the categorical data. Results: The mean age of the participants was 21.27 ± 1.37 (range: 19-28) years, and 54.0% (n: 81) were females and 46.0% (n: 69) were males. Overall, 68.0% (n: 102) reported that they had consumed an energy drink at least once in their lives, with 29.4% of these reporting use in combination with alcohol, 22.6% reporting use before exams, 20.6% reporting use before a physical activity, 13.7% reporting use to relieve fatigue, and 48.0% reporting that they had only tried an energy drink out of curiosity. Conclusion: A large number of participants tried energy drinks out of curiosity, but energy drink consumption was quite common in combination with alcohol. Case studies are needed to provide detailed information on the actual adverse health effects of energy drinks, but in the meantime, energy drink consumption should not be encouraged. Health care providers should educate children and families for the adverse effects of energy drinks.

Keywords

• Energy drinks,Alcoholic beverages,Medical students

References

1. 1. Görgülü Y, Taşdelen Ö, Sönmez MB, Köse Çınar R. Enerji içeceği tüketimi sonrası gelişen bir akut psikoz olgusu. Nore Psikiyatri Ars 2014; 51: 79-81. doi: 10.4274/npa.y6772
2. 2. Dikici S, Aydın LY, Kutlucan A, Ercan N. Enerji içecekleri hakkında neler biliyoruz? Dicle Tıp Derg 2012; 39: 609-13. doi: 10.5798/diclemedj.0921.2012.04.0212
3. 3. Malinauskas BM, Aeby VG, Overton RF, Carpenter-Aeby T, Barber-Heidal K. A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students. Nutr J 2007; 6: 35-41. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-6-35
4. 4. Hidiroglu S, Tanriover O, Unaldi S, Sulun S, Karavus M. A survey of energy-drink consumption among medical students. J Pak Med Assoc 2013; 63: 842-5.
5. 5. Berger AJ, Alford K. Cardiac arrest in a young man following excess consumption of caffeinated “energy drinks”. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 41-3.
6. 6. Wilson RE, Kado HS, Samson R, Miller AB. A case of caffeine-induced coronary artery vasospasm of a 17-yearold male. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2012; 12: 175-9. doi: 10.1007/ s12012.011.9152-9
7. 7. Reissig CJ, Strain EC, Griffiths RR. Caffeinated energy drinks – a growing problem. Drug Alcohol Depend 2009; 99: 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2008.08.001
8. 8. Wolk BJ, Ganetsky M, Babu KM. Toxicity of energy drinks. Curr Opin in Pediatr 2012; 24: 243-51. doi: 10.1097/ MOP.0b013e328.350.6827

9. 9. İsçioğlu F, Ova G, Duyar Y, Köksal M. Üniversite öğrencileri arasındaki enerji içeceği tüketimi ve bilinci araştırılması. Acad Food J 2010; 8: 6-11.
10. 10. Chuda AML. A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among 4th and 5th year students of Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lodz. Folia Cardiol 2015; 10: 149-56. doi: 10.5603/FC.2015.0028
11. 11. Cabezas-Bou E, De León-Arbucias J, Matos-Vergara N, et al. A survey of energy drink consumption patterns among college students at a mostly Hispanic university. J Caffeine Res 2016; 6: 154-62. doi: 10.1089/jcr.2016.0011
12. 12. Arria AM, Caldeira KM, Kasperski SJ, et al. Increased alcohol consumption, nonmedical prescription drug use, and illicit drug use are associated with energy drink consumption among college students. J Addic Med 2010; 4: 74-80. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0b013e3181aa8dd4
13. 13. Attila S, Çakir B. Energy-drink consumption in college students and associated factors. Nutrition 2011; 27: 316-22. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2010.02.008
14. 14. Velazquez CE, Poulos NS, Latimer LA, Pasch KE. Associations between energy drink consumption and alcohol use behaviors among college students. Drug Alcohol Depend 2012; 123: 167-72. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.11.006
15. 15. Şen L, Dere HE, Şen İK. Survey on consumption behaviour of energy drink among university students: example of Afyon Kocatepe University. Turkish JAF Sci Tech 2015; 3: 394-401. doi: 10.24925/turjaf.v3i6.394-401.264
16. 16. Reid JL, McCrory C, White CM, et al. Consumption of caffeinated energy drinks among youth and young adults in Canada. Prev Med 2017; 5: 65-70. doi: 10.1016/j. pmedr.2016.11.012
17. 17. Seifert SM, Schaechter JL, Hershorin ER, Lipshultz SE. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults. Pediatrics 2011; 127: 511-28. doi: 10.1542/ peds.2009-3592
18. 18. Terlizzi R, Rocchi C, Serra M, Solieri L, Cortelli P. Reversible postural tachycardia syndrome due to inadvertent overuse of Red Bull®. Clin Auton Res 2008; 18: 221-23. doi: 10.1007/ s10286.008.0483-y