A new study suggests that clinicians should consider screening their patients for caffeine use to get a better understanding of caffeine’s long term impacts.
Researchers at the University Of Massachusetts Division Of Medical Toxicology reviewed how the ingredients in high caffeine products are absorbed, digested and expelled from the body amid concerns over increased reports of caffeine poisoning, BeverageDaily.com reported.
Researchers were particularly concerned with the lack of research directly relating to the impact of energy drink consumption.
“Clinicians should report all suspected cases of energy drink toxicity to a poison control center,” the researchers said.
The study also looked at other ingredients often present in energy drinks, especially guarana.
The naturally derived plant-based stimulant is often used in energy drinks and is itself relatively high in caffeine – with a presence of as much as 250mg to just three to five grams of the product.
The researchers noted that the presence of guarana and herbal ingredients like kola nut, tea, and cocoa do not require caffeine labeling, possibly resulting in their omission from the total stimulant content in the beverage.
The study found that, In 2005, the US Association of Poison Control Centers received 46,000 queries related to concerns over caffeine. Of this number, 2345 people required some form of treatment at health care facilities, the report said. However, the findings suggest said there is no evidence to reflect the true impact energy drink consumption may have had on these figures.