CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study

Low prices, extensive availability, gendered branding and marketing are the key factors that

made energy drinks a mainstream beverage all over the world. Most energy drinks are consumed

privately and publicly with the purpose of social, sports, and computer gaming related activities. Given

these activities, most cases of extreme consumption of energy drinks are present in males. Energy drinks

are one of the most popular functional beverages in our modern world that benefits drinkers to boost

energy, enhance athletic performances, improve concentration, and to lose weight effectively.

(Cheetam, Crossley, Lake, & Visram, 2017).

With this condition, different studies have conducted the different health effects of consuming

energy drinks regularly. Most of the results are negative and these results affect the significant parts of

the human’s body. If there are positive effects that energy drink can contribute, it is completely

unworthy for its negative effects are seriously dominant. Most of the energy drinks are mainly

composed of caffeine and glucose in large amounts but some are just artificially sweetened. In every 8

ounces of energy drinks, the caffeine content of it ranges from 80-150 mg, that is equivalent to 5 ounces

of coffee or 24-ounce can of caffeinated soda. Besides caffeine and glucose, taurine, ginseng, guarana,

acai, maltodextrin, inositol, carnitine, glucuronolactone, ginkgo biloba, methylxanthines, creatine, yerba

mate, and vitamin B are the other ingredients used in energy drinks but mostly caffeine and glucose

the whole energy drink. (Alsunni, 2015).

Fenton et al. (2016) states that, a primary concern with energy drink consumption is the excess

caffeine consumption which most energy drinks have. Excess consumption of caffeine may lead to

different adverse effects some of which are anxiety, sleeping disorders, restlessness, gastro-intestinal

effects, tachycardia and other cardiac symptoms. Also, in unusual caffeine consumption cases seizures
and death may occur. Caffeine as defined by Nichols (2017) from Medical News Today, is a commonly

used stimulant that millions of people consumed to increase alertness, ease the exhaustion, and

improve attention.

Health Canada, a health organization from Canada recommends different levels of caffeine

intake that different people should limit prior to their age and body weights. Canadian adults should

limit their caffeine consumption to about three 8 oz. cups of brewed coffee per day, that is equivalent to

no more than 400 mg of caffeine per day. Children in this case are more vulnerable and sensitive to the

effects of caffeine. So, Health Canada recommends children aged four to six should take caffeine no

more than 45 mg per day. Children aged seven to nine should take caffeine no more than 62.5 milligram.

Children 10 to 12 should take caffeine no more than 85 mg per day. Lastly, adolescents 13 and older

should take caffeine no more than 2.5 kg/body weight. (Health Canada, 2013)

In Philippine context, more than 500 energy drink products are placed in the market, and its

popularity increases together with the weighty energy drink related emergencies and deaths. (Boggs,

2017). There are several researches that focuses on energy drinks and its toxicity but these researches

were not disseminated for public information and health. Some of the research papers are not publish

publicly and some are not available for free. In that sense, the purpose of this study is to determine the

different toxicity levels and the different contents/ingredients of localized energy drinks in the

Philippines.

1.2 Objectives

The objective of this research were:

 To identify the three usually consumed energy drinks of the people in Dinalupihan
  To identify the different constituent ingredients of the three energy drinks

 To identify the toxicity levels of common ingredients

 To rank the toxicity of energy drinks based on its ingredients

 To give some health awareness and information about energy drinks and its effects

1.3 Problem statement

In the town of Dinalupihan, the number of people who consume energy drinks are rising. Most

of them are fond of consuming energy drinks especially the teenagers to of boost their level of

concentration, energy, and wakefulness. Teenagers used to consume caffeinated products one of which

is energy drink for them to stay awake at night while doing school projects. Athletes in the other hand,

consume energy drinks to boost their athletic performances and energy throughout their game or

practice. Little that they know that excessive consumption of energy drinks have different adverse

effects. These information already brought awareness for some people in Dinalupihan because there are

several cases that is related to energy drink consumption. The real problem is that people keep on

consuming product behind its negative effect on health because it really boost their performances. The

people are used of altering and consuming different brand of energy drinks and testing it if it will suit to

their own health preference. If they do not experience any negative or unusual feeling, they will stick to

that brand without knowing that all energy drinks do really have adverse effects when consumed

excessively.

Therefore, this study aims to identify the contents of different Philippine energy drinks and

determine their toxicity level. Given the different adverse effects of energy drinks, what particular
energy drink in the Philippines have the highest and lowest toxicity content. The researchers will also

suggest some health precautions and advice when it comes on consuming energy drinks in day to day

life that can somehow persuade the consumers to stop consuming toxic energy drinks.

Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of energy drink consumers in Dinalupihan in terms of:

a. Sex?;

b. Age?; and,

c. Occupation?

2. What are the reasons why Dinalupiheños are fond/not fond of consuming energy drinks? And Why?

3. What are the common locally produced energy drinks that are usually consumed by the people in

Dinalupihan?

a. What is the most consumed energy drink?

b. What is the least consumed energy drink?

c. On balance, what energy drink is usually consumed by Dinalupihenos?

4. What are the different ingredients of these locally produced energy drinks that are usually consumed

by the people in Dinalupihan?

a. What are the different ingredients of these energy drinks? Commented [MS1]: Please check the toxicity levels of
taurine, niacin, and pyridoxine, and caffeine when co-
b. What are the toxicity levels of these different ingredients? ingested with ethanol?

This is clinical toxicology so please expect numerous lab

c. How toxic are these drinks to the body once consumed? visits. Good luck!

d. What are the effects of these energy drinks to the consumer?

5. What is the acceptable amount of energy drinks that can be consumed per day/week/month?
6. Is there a significant relationship between the overall health of individuals and drinking of energy

drinks?

1.4 Significance of the Study

The study of different toxicity levels of localized energy drinks can be a lifesaving research for

the people who usually consumed energy drinks without prior notice. This study would definitely benefit

the people of Dinalipuhan, specifically the teenagers and the athletes that uses energy drinks excessively

for wakefulness and enhanced performance. The research’s objectives are to identify the toxicity levels

of localized energy drinks based from its content and provide some health precautions when consuming

it in day to day activities.

This study can also be beneficial for some health organizations in Dinalupihan for disseminating

information about the adverse effects and the toxicity levels of localized energy drinks. Public and

private schools can also use the data in this research for teenagers are the most sensitive and vulnerable

consumers of toxic products. This would expectedly increase the level of awareness of the

Dinalupihenos when consuming caffeinated products especially energy drinks. It will also somehow

change the way people perceive of energy drinks but it will regulate the consumption of energy drink

effectively than before. To some extent, it can possibly stop a person in consuming energy drinks

completely in his/her life.

In some cases, some people are already knowledgeable about the adverse effect of energy

drinks but the question then becomes what is the most toxic localized brand or product among those

energy drinks and what are the safety precautions of drinking energy drinks. Also, it is relatable to

drinking coffee which also contains a large amount of caffeine. This study will definitely raise awareness

and it will definitely change the people’s perception about drinking energy drinks. Lastly, this study can
help the people of Dinalupihan to be a wiser consumer when it comes on consuming products that are

toxic in content especially energy drinks.

1.5 Limitations of the study

The study is a descriptive and experimental research in nature and it focused on the different

toxicity levels and content of localized energy drinks in the Philippines. The three energy drinks that we

have focused on was based from the survey results. The research interviewees are composed of 100

random people from the town of Dinalupihan, Philippines. The primary data gathering method used was

survey to determine the addiction level of people to energy drinks and what are the localized energy

drinks that they used to consume. Also, random and convenience sampling were used to survey the

people, this determined the respondent’s age, gender, and occupation which has a direct relation to

energy drinks consumption. Frequency distribution and coding were used to interpret the gathered

data.

On the experimental side, the three energy drinks were brought to lab to breakdown the

different ingredients of localized energy drinks and to identify the ingredient’s toxicity level. The results

were tallied and ranked accordingly from bad to worst.

Furthermore, the study delimits itself on localized energy drink products that have been made in

the Philippines and will only focus on distinguishing the different contents of energy drinks and

measuring its different health effects that might have a neutral or worst effect on consumer’s health.

We will rank the most toxic energy drink from highest to lowest depending on its content. Also, by

getting the different toxicity level, we will suggest some health precautions and advice when it comes on

consuming energy drinks in day to day life.