Are The Vitamins & Minerals In Energy Drinks Like Monster, Red Bull, Sobe & Rockstar Effective?

Energy drinks fuel the planet. Raking in more than $2 billion dollars annually, theses "mega-energizing" tonics force top soda manufacturers to compete for the top-spot in the industry. Despite the popularity of these beverages, many consumers are still left wondering about their effectiveness. Energy soft drinks such as Monster, Red Bull, Sobe and Rockstar are loaded with a plethora of vitamins and natural ingredients claiming to deliver non-stop energy for weight-loss, long work days, intense study sessions and hard workouts. The validity of these claims lies in understanding the functions of the ingredients alone and their effectiveness as served in an ice cold carbonated energy beverage.

B Vitamins

B vitamins such as riboflavin, niacin, B-6 and B-12 are found in abundance in many of the leading energy drinks on the market today. While B vitamins impact your body's metabolism and play a role in several energy-producing pathways, they are virtually ineffective when consumed in mass quantities. B vitamins are water-soluble, therefore excess is excreted, not stored and does not result in additional energy when consumed in excess.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid found in many energy drinks as well as in red meat and fish products. It is responsible for neurological development and is vital to regulation of water and mineral levels in the blood. According to MayoClinic.com, some researchers have found that Taurine improves athletic performance, lowers blood pressure, and when combined with caffeine, can enhance cognitive function. These studies, however, are inconclusive as the results showed very little significance. Much like the B vitamins, excess taurine is simply excreted from the body; therefore consuming a significant number of energy beverages only results in expensive urine.

Guarana

Unlike many of the other ingredients in an energy drink, guarana, is not naturally occurring in the body. Guarana is an effective stimulant and has twice the caffeine as one cup of coffee. According to studies from the University of California, guarana has been related to enhanced physical performance and suppressed appetite. In 2006, the "Journal of Psycho-pharmacology" published a study of the behavioral effects of guarana in humans. Guarana was shown to improve memory, alertness, and mood in comparison to a placebo when consumed in doses between 37.5 and 75 mg. These results suggest, much like the other ingredients discussed, that over-consumption of energy drinks does not make the key ingredients any more effective.

Effectiveness of Energy Drinks

In the end, the vitamins and other ingredients contained in energy drinks are effective for improved mental clarity, alertness, and appetite suppression. Claims by energy drink marketers including improving mental function, weight loss, and enhanced physical performance may be true when consumed in moderation and in line with other healthy habits. (ref 3, 6)