The concentration of taurine in two energy drinks, monster locarb and hour 5 energy, was found by using highperformance liquid chromatography. Taurine is a type of amino acid found in many foods and often added to energy drinks. Oct 09, 2015 the multibillion dollar phenomenon of energy drinks has captured the attention of scientists and nutritionists across the country. Taurine also occurs naturally in a range of animal foods, including seafood, beef, and chicken. Do energy drinks contain active components other than caffeine. However, soda and energy drinks are not recommended due to the other harmful ingredients present in them. Patients with end stage renal disease are taurine depleted but supplementation produces dizziness and. Taurine is present in breast milk, and has been added to many infant formulas, as a measure of prudence, since the early 1980s. Nov 27, 2018 taurine is a type of amino acid found in many foods and often added to energy drinks.
Energy drinks contain a variety of ingredients, but many of the topselling brands include high doses of caffeine and the amino acid taurine. The ideal energy drink for those with active lifestyles. This is of considerable interest, as several commercially available energy drinks contain both substances. Many people believe that taurine is a stimulant, much like caffeine. Taurine, an amino acid important in several of the bodys metabolic processes, is thought to have antioxidant properties. Taurine is a key ingredient in red bull, monster, rock star, and other energy drinks. In the early 19 th century, taurine was isolated from bull bile.
An early study showed that consumption of sports and energy drinks by children and adolescents was widespread56 and 42% for sports drinks and energy drinks, respectively. Taurine is synthesized via cysteine and methionine in the body by the liver and brain. Energy drinks that include taurine as an ingredient have also had detrimental effects reported, 24,25 as have numerous case reports, often in patients with high consumption. You may be familiar with taurine only because its a featured ingredient in popular energy drinks like red. Taurine is an amino acid found abundantly in brain, retina, heart, and reproductive organ cells, as well as in meat and seafood. Taurine, energy drinks, and neuroendocrine effects. The taurine content of most energy drinks such as red bull is synthetically made. The method can be for analysis of taurine in energy drinks in quality control laboratories. The energy drink buzz developed by registered dietitians nutrition services. Energy drinks, including monster energy, market taurine as a substance that enhances the entry of glucose into muscles which improves endurance because the body uses the glucose in times of stress.
Some researchers have dubbed taurine a wonder molecule, but there are a variety of misconceptions about this. A rapid and simple method to determine taurine in energy drinks by precolumn highperformance liquid chromatography was developed using a derivative of 4fluoro7nitrobenzofurazan nbdf with. And since a vegan diet provides essentially no taurine, energy drink intake in any amount would. Taurine in the content is an amino acid which has a neuroprotective role in muscle contraction and brain. Pdf taurine, energy drinks, and neuroendocrine effects. Medicinal energy drinks commonly contain 50 mg, whereas soft energy drinks sometimes contain as much as 50 mg or more per bottle, as labeled on some of the energy products available in the marketplace. The investigation includes validation of procedures for performance of the tests for identification, purity and assay. Learn more about taurine uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain taurine. Taurine 2aminoethanesulfonic acid is one the most abundant amino acids in your brain, spinal cord, eyes, and nearly every tissue in your body. Determination of taurine in energy drinks by highperformance. Both young and old are consuming these energy drinks as if they are going out of fashion nworah, 2007.
Companies market energy drinks by stating that they increase physical and emotional endurance and concentration. Consult with your physician regarding consumption of taurine and caffeine. Analytical parameters precision, accuracy, selectivity, linearity, limit of detection and limit of quantitation were studied and compared. Sep 09, 2019 taurine is an essential amino acid and a common ingredient in many energy drinks. Early clinical research shows that taurine, in combination with caffeine and b vitamins red bull energy drink, can improve attention, reasoning, and wakefulness, but does not improve memory. Taurine may also be taken as a dietary nutritional supplement and is often found in popular energy drinks touted to boost athletic performance. Caffeine, taurine and the energy drinks in which they are found do have benefits but in large amounts can also cause medical complications. Closeup of someone pouring coffee into a glass cup. A recent survey of 78 youth ages 1118 found that 42. Again, the studies that suggest the compound can prevent exerciseinduced muscle damage use extremely small sample sizes.
One of the most common components found in energy drinks is taurine. Jul 21, 2018 taurine is found in large amounts in the brain, retina, heart, and platelets. The effects are presumably attributable to high contents of caffeine. Pdf taurine is an amino acid found abundantly in brain, retina, heart, and reproductive organ cells, as well as in meat and seafood. In the retina, taurine is critical for photoreceptor development and acts as a cytoprotectant against. The method was successfully applied for determination of taurine in energy drinks.
Jun 06, 2018 caffeine isnt the only substance in energy drinks that give consumers a jolt. Spectrophotometric method for determination of taurine in. Aug 23, 2018 there is some concern about the safe dose of taurine in energy drinks and whether individuals may experience side effects, as a result of its inclusion it the drink. The synthesis of taurine involves many enzymatic steps, and all steps need vitamin b6, which act as a cofactor. It appears that energy drinks are the new drinks for the nigerian male and female, there appears to be a new craze and craving for energy drinks nworah, 2007. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents.
The dangers of taurine, commonly found in energy drinks. However, further research is needed and this finding remains controversial, as does the use of taurine in energy drinks. Taurine in energy drinks provides increase in physical stregth and concentration in combination with caffeine 5,6. Sports and energy drinks journal of renal nutrition. Every region of your brain including the retina in your eyes contains or takes up taurine. In this study we examined the possible diuretic effects of caffeine and taurine in a.
Those who drink energy drinks with taurine should be aware that the taurine in those drinks may be synthetic and may not offer all of the benefits of taurine found in food sources or in the human body. Mar 25, 2020 other studies suggest that taurine combined with caffeine improves mental performance. However, this practice has never been rigorously studied, and as such it has yet to be proven to be necessary, or even beneficial. One of the main reasons is taurine, a common ingredient found in the caffeine and sugarladen concoctions. Nov 16, 2017 another common selling point made by manufacturers of taurine energy drinks and pre workouts is that they decrease the amount of microdamage that occurs through vigorous exercise. There is some concern about the safe dose of taurine in energy drinks and whether individuals may experience side effects, as a result.
Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and young adults abstract objective. Energy drinks are beverages that contain caffeine, taurine, vitamins, herbal supplements, and sugar or sweeteners and are marketed to improve energy, weight loss, stamina. Taurine, energy drinks, and neuroendocrine effects cleveland. William lewander, md the availability of caffeinecontaining energy beverages, combined with aggressive marketing and urban legend, has promoted their. Mar 01, 2014 companies market energy drinks by stating that they increase physical and emotional endurance and concentration. One of the main reasons is taurine, a common ingredient found in the caffeine and sugarladen concoctions what is taurine. Uses, side effects, interactions, dosage, and warning. Taurine is also present in an 8ounce serving of soda and energy drinks with approximately 600 mg to 1,000 mg of taurine. The term energy drinks refers to beverages that contain caffeine in combination with other ingredients such as taurine, guarana, and b vitamins, and that claims to provide its consumers with extra energy 1.
Although they act via different cellular mechanisms, their diuretic actions might be additive. Caffeine isnt the only substance in energy drinks that give consumers a jolt. This term was created by companies in the beverage industry 1 and is not recognized by the. Debunking the effects of taurine in red bull energy drink. Unfortunately, little is known about taurines neuroendocrine effects. Health effects of energy drinks on children, adolescents, and. Today, manufacturers add taurine to infant formula, nutritional supplements, and energy drinks. Taurine is safe to consume and can improve the health of those with heart problems and other medical conditions. According to 155 sources, taurine consumption in humans typically. Keep in mind that there might be high amounts of other ingredients in energy drinks, such as herbal stimulants, caffeine or sugar. Energy drinks typically contain high levels of sugar and at least as much caffeine as a cup of coffee. Opinion on caffeine, taurine and dglucurono lactone as. The ingredient is added because there is evidence it helps muscle function, may aid athletic performance and endurance, helps reduce anxiety, and appears to aid blood sugar regulation and cardiac health.
Taurine is a free form amino acid contained in foods and manufactured in the body from the amino acid cysteine. In fact its the opposite, as the ingredient is added to energy drinks as a nervous system depressant when you ingest the bullish compound it suppress the neurotransmitter receptors responsible for triggering excitary effects in your brain. Other studies suggest that taurine combined with caffeine improves mental performance. For caffeine, it was concluded that the contribution of energy drinks to overall caffeine. All ocular tissues contain taurine, and quantitative analysis of ocular tissue extracts of the rat eye revealed that taurine was the most abundant amino acid in the retina, vitreous, lens, cornea, iris, and ciliary body.
If you read the label, youll also find b vitamins, guarana, ginseng, green tea extracts and taurine, all known. Energy drinks contain a variety of ingredients, but many of the top. Acute effects of a caffeinetaurine energy drink on. Though there is no scientific basis to the idea that it increases mental or physical performance red bull gives you wings. Long term use can cause decrease of energy, anxiety, and you will build a dependence to it according to the cdc. Recent literature suggests that both caffeine and taurine can induce diuresis and natriuresis in rat and man. Up to 3,000 milligrams a day of supplemental taurine is considered safe. Although the main active ingredient in energy drinks is caffeine, they also contain taurine, inositol, riboflavin, prydoxin, nicotinamide, other vitamin bs and other herbal derivatives. Taurine is an essential amino acid and a common ingredient in many energy drinks. With the rise of these energy drinks, taurine has found its way into diet and workout supplements as well as certain nootropics and cognitive enhancing supplements. Socalled energy drinks with very high amounts of taurine up to 4000 mgl are usually granted by certificates of exemption are increasingly offered on the market. To control the currently valid maximum limits of taurine in energy drinks, a simple.
Energy drinks do not give you any health benefits or. Dec 01, 2017 energy drinks contain a variety of ingredients, but many of the topselling brands include high doses of caffeine and the amino acid taurine. While not all energy drinks contain 154 taurine, it is one of the central ingredients in many energy drink products paddock, 2008. Taurine is an amino acid produced naturally in the human body that is also found in meat, seafood, and milk. Many people take taurine as a supplement, and some researchers refer to it as a wonder molecule 1, 2. Pdf rapid analysis of taurine in energy drinks using. In recent years, there has been an increase in the consumption of energy drinks, containing besides calories, other ingredients suspected to boost mental, emotional and physical alertness of the. The aim of this study is developing and validation of uvspectrophotometric method for determination of taurine in energy drink mixtures.
Sep 27, 2019 today, manufacturers add taurine to infant formula, nutritional supplements, and energy drinks. When taurine is dumped into the bloodstream, via consuming an energy drink, it cannot pass through the membranes that protect the brain. Some energy drinks contain slightly more caffeine, insofar as the serving size listed is based on approximately 8 ounces. Pdf this study investigated the effects of caffeine and taurine coingestion on repeatsprint cycling performance and associated physiological. Energy drinks, which typically contain high concentrations of taurine and caffeine. Energy drinks are marketed to many students who may need wings to help stay awake during class or study. The multibillion dollar phenomenon of energy drinks has captured the attention of scientists and nutritionists across the country. Taurine in energy drinks taurine is a free form amino acid contained in foods and manufactured in the body from the amino acid cysteine. One of the main reasons is taurine, a big player in the caffeine and sugarladen concoctions. Pdf energy drink doses of caffeine and taurine have a null or. Determination of taurine in energy drinks by highperformance liquid chromatography brad mcconn. Minutes of the 115th meeting of the scientific committee on food held on 2021st january 1999.
Pdf rapid analysis of taurine in energy drinks using amino. The stated caffeine content of most energy drinks ranged from 240320 mgl. Many people take taurine as a supplement, and some researchers refer to it. Energy drinks can contain anywhere from 20 to 2,000 mg of taurine. Taurine originally got its name after scientists found the amino acid in bulls. Oct 14, 2009 the multibillion dollar phenomenon of energy drinks has the attention of scientists everywhere. Lets examine the benefits, uses, dosage and potential dangers. The inclusion of taurine in energy drinks is most likely due to the effect it is thought to have on mental and athletic performance. The committee adopted an opinion on socalled energy drinks in 1999, which evaluated the safety of caffeine, taurine and dglucurono lactone as constituents of energy drinks scf, 1999. The content of taurine measured compared to the labeled amount in three commercial energy drinks containing taurine was found to be 93.
But it is also a major ingredient in popular energy drinks, which thus constitute a major source of taurine supplementation. Uvspectrophotometry determination of taurine in energy drink. Risk assessment of energy drinks with focus on cardiovascular. A case of acute psychosis following energy drink consumption. In comparing energy drinks to caffeinated soda or coffee, soda contains approximately 35 to 55 g of caffeine per 12 ounces, and 1 cup of coffee 6 ounces contains anywhere from 50 to 200 mg of caffeine.