Health & Medicine

Energy Drinks May Increase The Risk Of Hyperactivity In Children

Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Feb 09, 2015 08:54 PM EST

Previous studies have examined the dangers of energy drinks. Not only are these extremely caffeinated beverages that are filled with sugar dangerous for adults--particularly when it comes to cardiovascular problems--they're even more dangerous for children.

New findings published in the journal Academic Pediatrics examine how these sugar-sweetened energy drinks can increase the risk of ADHD in children.

For the study, Yale researchers surveyed over 1,500 middle school students about their soda and energy drink consumption.

They found that children who dank more of these types of drinks were also more likely to behavioral problems, including hyperactivity and inattention to drink them. Furthermore, findings showed that boys were more likely to consume energy drinks than girls, and Black and Hispanic boys drank more than study counterparts.

Energy drinks contain large amounts of caffeine, sugar and other ingredients that work synergistically with caffeine. Caffeine may be contributing to this association because the caffeine content of energy drinks is far greater on average than that of soda," the study authors noted.

However, researchers noted that the study does not prove that energy drinks are the cause of behavioral health problems in children.

"Our results support the American Academy of Pediatricsrecommendation that parents should limit consumption of sweetened beverages and that children should not consume any energy drinks," study author Jeannette Ickovics, director of CARE (Community Alliance for Research and Engagement) at the Yale School of Public Health, said in a news release. 

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