Abstract

CARNEVALI DE FALKE, Susana  and  DEGROSSI, María Claudia. Energy drinks: characteristics of consumption and caffeine intake of young adults from Argentina. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2015, vol.23, n.3, pp.105-117. ISSN 1851-3743.

The aim of this study was to estimate the average daily intake of caffeine through consumption of energy drinks (ED) as a single source, in a population of youth and young adults, ages 18 to 40, from Argentina. In the period from March to October 2013, the participants filled up a questionnaire of indirect management through the web. 73.8% of the respondents consumed ED at least once in the past year, and 74.9% of them, mixed the ED with alcohol. The caffeine mean daily intake was 0.12 mg/kg/day for the whole sample, reaching values of 0.65 mg/kg/day for chronic consumers and 5.81 mg/kg for acute consumers. The high proportion of respondents who consumed the mixture of ED and alcohol, and the mean and maximum caffeine daily intake from this single source observed in acute and chronic consumers makes it a priority to have risk communication strategies, to reduce high-risk drinking and to avoid situations that might compromise health.

Keywords : Energy drinks; Caffeine; Daily intake; Young adults.