ENERGY DRINK

The manufacturers of energy drinks claim that their products boost energy levels. Those claims generally have been based on proprietary formulas, in which the stimulant effects of a drink were said to be derived from the specific concoction of ingredients. Research has indicated, however, that the stimulant effects of energy drinks are due primarily to caffeine. Other ingredients, such as taurine and vitamins B6 and B12, could potentially exert biological effects but have not been known to increase energy levels; the effects of some ingredients (e.g., glucuronolactone) are unknown. Levels of vitamins and certain other additives in energy drinks often far exceed recommended daily intakes.