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

Year 2019, , 71 - 75, 31.05.2019

Ercan Kulak , Seyhan Hıdıroglu Emel Lulecı Melda Karavus

https://doi.org/10.5472/marumj.570908

Cited By: 2

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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