Ed 
Energy drinks can be dangerous for children, UAE experts warn
ABU DHABI // Experts are highlighting the dangers of energy drinks to children, warning they can lead to diabetes and heart disorders.
They say the drinks can contain dangerous levels of caffeine, which can also raise blood pressure and cause irregular sleep to younger people.
"Energy drinks containing stimulants should have no place in the diets of children or adolescents," said Lena Nasih, a clinical dietitian at Dubai Healthcare City.
"The total amount of caffeine in some cans or bottles of energy drinks can exceed 500 milligrams, which is equivalent to 14 cans of common caffeinated soft drinks and can therefore be high enough to result in caffeine toxicity."
Dr Biniam Tesfayohannes, consultant and chair of the emergency department at Abu Dhabi's Mafraq Hospital, said this could lead to children requiring medication.
"Theoretically, if a young person's small body weight takes too many energy drinks, they will experience a fast heartbeat, agitation and might need sedation until the effect has worn off," Dr Tesfayohannes said.
He said caffeine, if taken in extremely high doses, could lead to abdominal pain, vomiting, tremors and even heart attacks.
Obesity is also a concern, as most energy drinks have high calorie content, Ms Nasih said. She said the drinks should be banned for children and replaced with water or low-fat milk.
"Given the current epidemic of overweight and obese children, it is recommended that calorie-containing beverages be eliminated from a well-balanced diet," Ms Nasih said.
The American Academy of Paediatrics recommends that young children should not have energy drinks and adolescents should not have more than 100mg of caffeine a day.
But one energy drink can easily put adolescents over that limit.
Wired x505 has one of the highest caffeine contents on the international market, with 500mg of caffeine a can.
Rage Inferno contains 375mg of caffeine a can, Redline Power Rush 350mg and Rockstar 240mg. Red Devil has 160mg, while there is 80mg of caffeine in a can of Red Bull.
Ms Nasih said while some children or adolescents may use them to boost energy when exercising, water was a better option.
Those exercising for long periods should use sports drinks rather than energy drinks, as they have specific amounts of sugar and salts to replace what is lost during a workout.
"Energy drinks are not the same as sports drinks," Ms Nasih said. "Energy drinks tend to be higher in sugar, which can make them harder to absorb during exercise and could cause stomach upset.
"Drinking energy drinks during exercise can lead to dehydration."
Dr Tesfayohannes said high-energy drinks are also harmful to adults.
This year, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the US called energy drinks "a continuing public health concern" after the number of cases related to them at emergency departments increased nearly tenfold between 2005 and 2011.
There were 20,783 emergency department visits related to energy drinks in the US in 2011. About 58 per cent of them involved energy drinks alone. The others also involved drugs.
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