What are energy drinks’ main benefits?

    Last Updated: December 19, 2023

    Some studies show that energy drinks can reduce feelings of sleepiness and fatigue,[1][2][3] increase feelings of alertness,[4][5] and improve some aspects of cognitive function, including mood,[4] attention,[6][7][4] memory,[8][6][4] and reaction time.[9][10][11][5] Energy drinks have also been shown to reduce ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise and enhance aerobic and anaerobic exercise performance.[9][12][13][14] However, existing randomized controlled trials examining the effects of energy drinks are few in number, include small numbers of participants, and often lack a control group for each ingredient. Furthermore, existing trials have large variability in the types of participants, testing modalities, and product ingredients. Therefore, further high-quality research is needed to make firm conclusions.

    It is also important to note that caffeine is the primary ingredient — and typically the sole stimulant — added to energy drinks.[9][15] Consequently, it is very likely that caffeine is responsible for the above-described effects of energy drinks because ample evidence shows that all of these effects are also caused by caffeine in isolation.

    References

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    2. ^Mets MA, Ketzer S, Blom C, van Gerven MH, van Willigenburg GM, Olivier B, Verster JCPositive effects of Red Bull® Energy Drink on driving performance during prolonged driving.Psychopharmacology (Berl).(2011-Apr)
    3. ^Reyner LA, Horne JAEfficacy of a 'functional energy drink' in counteracting driver sleepiness.Physiol Behav.(2002-Mar)
    4. ^Wesnes KA, Barrett ML, Udani JKAn evaluation of the cognitive and mood effects of an energy shot over a 6h period in volunteers: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, cross-over study.Appetite.(2013-Aug)
    5. ^Alford C, Cox H, Wescott RThe effects of red bull energy drink on human performance and moodAmino Acids.(2001)
    6. ^Scholey AB, Kennedy DOCognitive and physiological effects of an "energy drink": an evaluation of the whole drink and of glucose, caffeine and herbal flavouring fractionsPsychopharmacology (Berl).(2004 Nov)
    7. ^Antonio J, Kenyon M, Horn C, Jiannine L, Carson C, Ellerbroek A, Roberts J, Peacock C, Tartar JThe Effects of an Energy Drink on Psychomotor Vigilance in Trained Individuals.J Funct Morphol Kinesiol.(2019-Jul-22)
    8. ^Wesnes KA, Brooker H, Watson AW, Bal W, Okello EEffects of the Red Bull energy drink on cognitive function and mood in healthy young volunteers.J Psychopharmacol.(2017-Feb)
    9. ^Jagim AR, Harty PS, Tinsley GM, Kerksick CM, Gonzalez AM, Kreider RB, Arent SM, Jager R, Smith-Ryan AE, Stout JR, Campbell BI, VanDusseldorp T, Antonio JInternational society of sports nutrition position stand: energy drinks and energy shots.J Int Soc Sports Nutr.(2023-Dec)
    10. ^Oliver LS, Sullivan JP, Russell S, Peake JM, Nicholson M, McNulty C, Kelly VGEffects of Nutritional Interventions on Accuracy and Reaction Time with Relevance to Mental Fatigue in Sporting, Military, and Aerospace Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Int J Environ Res Public Health.(2021-Dec-28)
    11. ^Sholtes D, Kravitz HM, Deka A, Westrick J, Fogg LF, Gottlieb MOptimising sleep and performance during night float: A systematic review of evidence and implications for graduate medical education trainees.J Sleep Res.(2021-Aug)
    12. ^Shearer J, Graham TEPerformance effects and metabolic consequences of caffeine and caffeinated energy drink consumption on glucose disposalNutr Rev.(2014 Oct)
    13. ^Salinero JJ, Lara B, Del Coso JEffects of acute ingestion of caffeine on team sports performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Res Sports Med.(2019)
    14. ^Sergio L Jiménez, Javier Díaz-Lara, Helios Pareja-Galeano, Juan Del CosoCaffeinated Drinks and Physical Performance in Sport: A Systematic ReviewNutrients.(2021 Aug 25)
    15. ^Jagim AR, Harty PS, Barakat AR, Erickson JL, Carvalho V, Khurelbaatar C, Camic CL, Kerksick CMPrevalence and Amounts of Common Ingredients Found in Energy Drinks and Shots.Nutrients.(2022-Jan-13)