Young children may face serious health risks from popular energy drinks, such as Monster, Red Bull and Rock Star, potentially causing seizures, heart problems and other life-threatening conditions, according to the findings of new research.

Researchers indicate that the energy drinks are not intended for young children and are not safe for them to consume. Steven Lipshultz, M.D., lead author of the study and professor of pediatrics at Wayne State University, is calling for a warning on all energy drink cans and bottles, warning parents of the risks of allowing children access to the beverages.

People with underlying health conditions are especially at risk, he noted. Those with conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and diabetes, or those taking medication, should especially be concerned and vigilant when drinking these products.

It is difficult to know exactly how much caffeine is contained in each can or bottle of energy drinks like 5 Hour Energy, Red Bull and others, since they are often marketed as dietary supplements, which allow the manufacturers to avoid FDA regulations.

Energy drink manufacturers have compared the amount of caffeine in their products to that of hot beverages sold in coffee houses, but the products are often packaged in very large sizes and they are not sold in controlled environments like coffee houses, which typically would not serve young children.

Some energy drinks in many of the popular lines, like Monster and Red Bull, can contain up to 400 mg of caffeine per can. This much caffeine in one serving can cause a person’s heart to beat rapidly, increase blood pressure, or other nervous, digestive or cardiovascular system side effects, health experts warn. In comparison, a cup of coffee typically has around 100 mg of caffeine.

Caffeine poisoning can occur in adults at levels higher than 400 mg a day; however, children under 12 can experience caffeine poisoning at only 2.5 mg per 2.2 pounds of body weight.

儿童喝能量饮料不安全    

一项新研究发现，儿童饮用流行的能量饮料，像怪兽、红牛、摇滚明星等等，可能导致严重的健康后果，导致癫痫、心脏问题或其它威胁生命的症状。

研究者们指出能量饮料的目标人群并非低龄儿童，对他们来说饮用该类饮料不安全。韦恩州立大学儿科学带头人史蒂芬?利普舒兹教授呼吁应该在能量饮料包装上提示潜在的危险，警告家长让孩子饮用的风险。

他指出身体本身存在问题的孩子饮用后发生不良反应的几率更高。患有多动症、糖尿病以及长期服用药物的孩子喝能量饮品更需要警惕。

很难知道每瓶像5小时能量、红牛这样的饮料究竟含多少咖啡因。因为它们通常作为保健食品进入市场，可以规避食药监局的条例。

能量饮料厂家常常拿自家产品的咖啡因含量与咖啡店所售的热饮相比。但通常他们的商品包装更大，而且不像咖啡在特定环境售卖。咖啡店通常不接待低龄儿童。

一罐像怪兽、红牛这样的热门能量饮料含有高达400毫克的咖啡因。健康专家警告，一次性摄入这么多咖啡因会使心跳加快、血压上升，或引起其它神经、消化或心血管系统的不良反应。

而一杯咖啡的咖啡因含量仅仅是100毫克。成年人一天摄入咖啡因超过400毫克会中毒，而12岁以下儿童每2.2磅（约1kg）体重摄入2.5毫克就会中毒。

Words to Learn 相关词汇

    【要求】yāoqíu

    call for

    require, demand

    【多动症】duōdòngzhèng

    attention deficit

    hyperactivity disorder

    a psychiatric disorder of the neurodevelopmental type in which there are significant problems of attention, hyperactivity, or acting impulsively