Implications of sleep and energy drink use for health disparities

Abstract

The popularity of energy drinks has increased rapidly in the past decade. One of the main reasons people use energy drinks is to counteract effects of insufficient sleep or sleepiness. Risks associated with energy drink use, including those related to sleep loss, may be disproportionately borne by racial minorities and those of lower socioeconomic status. In this review, a brief introduction to the issue of health disparities is provided, population-level disparities and inequalities in sleep are described, and the social-ecological model of sleep and health is presented. Social and demographic patterns of energy drink use are then presented, followed by discussion of the potential ways in which energy drink use may contribute to health disparities, including the following: 1) effects of excessive caffeine in energy drinks, 2) effects of energy drinks as sugar-sweetened beverages, 3) association between energy drinks and risk-taking behaviors when mixed with alcohol, 4) association between energy drink use and short sleep duration, and 5) role of energy drinks in cardiometabolic disease. The review concludes with a research agenda of critical unanswered questions.

Sleep, Health, and Society

“…Other studies have shown similar patterns for sleep duration in other samples that included minority groups, 172,173 and this topic was the subject of multiple recent reviews. 19,174,175 …”

Energy Drinks and Youth Self-Reported Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms

“…However, a recent review examining patterns of energy drink consumption found that consumption was consistently higher among males, with no clear patterns by socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity. 9 …”

Energy Drinks: a Potentially Overlooked Obesity Correlate

“…Youth are also more likely as well to visit Monster and Rockstar energy drink websites, Facebook is replete with these adverts and the drinks are advertised at sports competitions and others. 19 In 2014 a study by Kumar et al, 20 who detailed the growing popularity of energy drinks among youth due to their stimulant qualities found 9% of youth ages 12-17 drank energy drinks, almost 20% felt these were safe for teens and 12.5% agreed these were types of sports drinks. 20 The highest consumption rates were among 16-17year olds.…”

“…19 In addition, rigorous review and analysis of the available literature clearly reveals that frequent or excessive intake of caloric sports and energy drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. 21 Unfortunately, Rush et al 22 affirm that the consumption of energy drinks containing sucrose and caffeine is increasing worldwide.…”