Energy drinks can cause adverse health effects, says GPM Pediatrics doctor

Jul 26 2014

Dr. Michael Gabriel of GPM Pediatrics, a noted Staten Island Pediatrician clinic, responds to an article, which discusses how bad energy drinks can be for children.

According to an article on Everyday Health, "The review found that almost half of 5,448 caffeine overdoses reported in 2007 involved people under age 19, according to Sara M. Seifert, BS, of the University of Miami, and colleagues."

Interestingly the study also found that "many energy drinks contain 70 to 80 mg of caffeine per 8-oz. serving — about three times the concentration in cola drinks."

It seems that the energy drinks may be linked "to serious adverse effects in young people, including seizures, diabetes, cardiac abnormalities, and mood and behavioral disorders."

Sara M. Seifert, BS, of the University of Miamiand her co-authors concluded that "energy drinks have no therapeutic benefit, and many ingredients are understudies and not regulated."

Dr. Michael Gabriel of GPM Pediatrics agrees with the article. "We may not have proof about how unhealthy energy drinks really are for our bodies, but we certainly do not have any information about them being good for our systems. These drinks may be putting children at risk for serious adverse health effects, and that is something that we need to be aware of."