Caffeine and energy drinks

Recent research has indicated that energy drinks are the most popular supplement besides multivitamins in the american adolescent and young adult population. More than 30% of all american male and female adolescents use these supplements on a regular basis. Energy drinks are also reported to be the most popular supplement (41.7% of the 403 athletes surveyed) among young (17.7 ± 2.0 years) elite british athletes. This brief review will examine the efficacy of these energy drinks regarding performance improvements and metabolic enhancement. In addition, issues relating to the safety of energy drink consumption will also be discussed.