February 26, 2015

expert reaction to survey of the sugar content of energy drinks

The group Action on Sugar has produced an analysis of the levels of sugar found in a number of energy drinks available in the UK.

Dr Amelia Lake, Lecturer in Knowledge Exchange in Public Health, Durham University, said:

“These survey findings are not surprising and highlight an issue of grave concern, not simply in terms of the large quantities of sugar present in these drinks but also in terms of the caffeine content, which is unsuitable for children and pregnant women, in large quantities.

“At Durham University, we are currently exploring the use of energy drinks by children and young people. Energy drinks are consumed by young people and they are marketed to young people.  It is a grave public health issue that somehow appears to have slipped off the radar. Parents and children are confused about the product (see this week’s blog from the Centre for Translational Research in Public Health: http://fuseopenscienceblog.blogspot.co.uk/), and there is some suggestion that some parents may be giving the product to children to stay awake or perform better at school or sports.  The research from Action on Sugar and QMUL highlights the need to address this product both in terms of sugar and the effects of caffeine.”

Prof. Christine Williams, Professor of Human Nutrition, University of Reading, said:

“I welcome this report on the sugar content of many of the energy drinks on the market. These drinks – and more particularly the way in which they are marketed – are very attractive to young people because they play on the idea that the drinks will boost performance – e.g. for sport and when studying. There has been insufficient attention paid to this worrying trend in teenagers and young adults – both from the point of the view of the very high sugar contents of the drinks – and the inclusion of caffeine at levels equivalent to two cups of coffee a day. Neither the sugar nor the caffeine are necessary, nor advisable additions to a balanced diet. Two cups of caffeine-containing coffee a day is the recommended maximum limit for pregnant women – due to the risk that caffeine can lead to low birth weight in infants. It is clear that caffeine, even at these ‘normal’ levels, is a highly metabolically active compound and yet is added to many drinks and over the counter medicines.”

Prof. Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Glasgow, said:

“Energy drinks are sold with a connotation of health and vitality, and often targeted at kids, but in reality they are not needed by the vast majority of society and their availability leads to much more harm than good. They contain substantial sugar levels and we know already that excess calories from sugary beverages are associated with obesity and greater risk of diabetes. The benefits of banning such drinks to under 16-year-olds would be substantial (something we are campaigning for in parts of Scotland) and may have a side benefit of helping children and their parents understand the need to limit intakes of sugary drinks. In the future, a taxation on all sugary drinks would be beneficial and could lead consumers towards less calorific options and help improves the nation’s health.”

‘Energy Drinks Survey 2015’, produced by Action on Sugar, is under embargo until 00:01 UK time on Thursday 26 February 2015. 

Declared interests

Dr Amelia Lake:

– paid employment or self-employment: Lecturer at Durham University and honorary Research Fellow at Newcastle University.  I have an inactive nutrition consultancy called Lake Nutrition

– grant funding: NIHR SPHR & Children’s Foundation, MRC via fuse

– voluntary appointments: British Nutrition Foundation Scientific Advisory Board

– memberships: BDA, Nutrition Society, Association for Nutritionists, Association for the Study of Obesity

– decision-making positions: The Responsibility Deal High Level Steering Committee (representing the British Dietetic Association)

– other financial interest: N/A

Prof. Christine Williams:

Member, Governing Body of the British Nutrition Foundation, 1998 –

Vice-President, British Nutrition Foundation, 2011-

Member, The Rank Nutrition Advisory Committee 2010-

Chair, UK Research Excellence Framework (REF) Sub-panel Agriculture, Veterinary and Food, 2012-2014

Director of the Governing Body of the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, 2014-

Chair, BBSRC Food Security Strategy Panel, 2014-

Member, BBSRC Research Advisory Panel, 2015-

Prof Williams’ research is primarily concerned with understanding the impact of dietary fats on human health, particularly in relation to cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.  She has provided advice to government and industry on matters relating to dietary policy and actively engages in dissemination of nutritional science to the public. In 1999 she was awarded the Royal Society of Medicine Gold Medal in Nutrition for her contribution to scholarship and education in nutrition. Between 1998-2001 she was the President of the UK Nutrition Society, she chaired the BBSRC Agri-Food Committee, 2003-2006 and is a Governor and Vice President of Council of the British Nutrition Foundation.  She was Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research & Innovation) at the University of Reading, 2008-2014. In 2013 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Honours list for her services to higher education and nutrition sciences.

Conflicts: In the past Christine Williams’ research has been funded by various funders including industry (Unilever, Nestle and Hoffman la Roche); during 2010-13, she acted as one of three members of Pepsico UK’s Advisory Board, advising on their nutrition and health strategy.