Survey of energy drink consumption and adverse health effects in Lebanon

Consumption of energy is a national and international phenomenon that showed increase in market spread and profits from 1990 and made the emergence of many brands. Energy drinks are aggressively marketed with the claim that these products give an energy boost to improve physical and cognitive performance. However, studies supporting these claims are limited. The study examines the new phenomena of energy drinks among university students in Lebanon, based on the participants’ personnel characteristics, university grade and the impact on health status. The study also determined whether high frequency of consumption was correlated with negative physical health symptoms. A cross-sectional study survey was undertaken on students aged between 18 and 30 years in private university over three branches (Beirut, Tripoli and Saida). A self-administered questionnaire was used inquiring about socio-demographic characteristics, consumption patterns and side effect of energy drinks. Data was analyzed using SPSS 24. Findings showed a serious concern exists for the health and safety of the most at risk students who engaged in daily energy drink usage when two-thirds of these reported difficulties sleeping, more than one experienced heart palpitation and blood pressure; one-third had anxiety, nervousness and feeling thirsty, and one fifth indicated tiredness and headache. Such symptoms are reported with excessive consumption of caffeine that had adverse health effect on the body.