There are no specific dosing suggestions for energy drinks or energy shots, but there are upper limits of suggested daily intake for some of the substances found in them.

For example, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), caffeine is unlikely to cause detrimental health effects if daily intake is below 400 mg/day in non-pregnant adults or below 200 mg/day in pregnant/lactating women, and if a single dose is less than 200 mg.^[1][2] While more research is needed to clarify the safety and upper limits of intake for children and adolescents,^[1] one systematic review suggests that this age group should consume no more than 2.5 mg of caffeine per kilogram of bodyweight per day (equivalent to 100 mg for a 40 kg person),^[3] and some organizations discourage children and adolescents from consuming caffeine and other stimulants at all.^[2]

Because some energy drinks and shots contain very high amounts of caffeine, and because high caffeine intake can cause serious adverse effects, the FDA recommends avoiding dietary supplements that contain highly concentrated caffeine since they can far exceed the upper recommended limit of daily intake.^[4] For a detailed overview of caffeine dosing, read our article “How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?”.

To learn more about the specific ingredients in energy drinks and shots, visit our pages on sugar, artificial sweeteners, caffeine, taurine, guarana, glucuronolactone, carnitine, choline, electrolytes, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D, and the B vitamins, including B3 (niacin), B6, and B12.