http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/08/08/energy.drinks.reut/index.html
NEW YORK (Reuters) – Despite such speedy-sounding names as “Full Throttle,” “Amp” and “Rush,” energy drinks pack a punch that is generally no stronger than coffee, according to a new report.
A comparison of 12 popular energy drinks, published in the September issue of Consumer Reports, found that the caffeine in 8 ounces of various brands ranged from 50 to145 milligrams (mg), though most were in the 75- to 80-mg range. Results were rounded to the nearest 5 mg.
By comparison, the caffeine in an 8-oz cup of brewed coffee can range from 65 to120 mg, with an average of 85 mg, according to the National Coffee Association.
The least-caffeinated energy drink Consumer Reports tested was the fruit punch-flavored offering by Target Corp.'s private label Archer Farms, with 50 mg. At the high end was the lemon-lime flavored Celsius with 145 mg. Market-leading Red Bull had 80 mg of caffeine. Sobe No Fear, owned by PepsiCo Inc., had 85 mg of caffeine. Amp had 75 mg of caffeine; Rush and Coca-Cola Co.'s Full Throttle both had 80 mg.
Jamie Kopf Hirsh, associate editor at Consumer Reports and the report’s author, said it was “good news” that energy drinks were not much more caffeinated than coffee, but said consumers should still be cautious. Even though 8 ounces is the standard serving size for measuring, most containers have more than that, and most consumers drink more than that. “You don’t have to be alarmed by this, you just have to account for it in your daily caffeine intake,” Hirsh said, adding that energy drinks, with their graphic video-game-like logos that appeal to young men, could be “coffee for the new generation.”
I usually can handle coffee better than energy drinks (for continued buzz without huge peaks). For me I think its that I sipp coffee and down redbulls. Also maybe the natural contents in the coffee bean might make it easier to sustain.
Someone had posted a while ago a caffiene study where huge doses left people practically useless. Ill look around, Keau
I could be wrong, but, I thought it was the high level of sugar that was supposed to give you the buzz. Shouldn’t that be more of a concern than the caffeine?
I forgot to mention that I drink the splenda and equal versions for energy drinks, but drink coffee with sugar 2-3 packets (8-14g/servings of sugar) homebrew stuff excluding starbucks. I can handle a can mountain dew better than a can of regular redbull; which has about double the amount of sugar. Pick your poison. Keau
The effects of red bull energy drink on human performance and mood.Alford C, Cox H, Wescott R.
Psychology Department, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
The effects of Red Bull Energy Drink, which includes taurine, glucuronolactone, and caffeine amongst the ingredients, were examined over 3 studies in a total of 36 volunteers. Assessments included psychomotor performance (reaction time, concentration, memory), subjective alertness and physical endurance. When compared with control drinks, Red Bull Energy Drink significantly (P < 0.05) improved aerobic endurance (maintaining 65-75% max. heart rate) and anaerobic performance (maintaining max. speed) on cycle ergometers. Significant improvements in mental performance included choice reaction time, concentration (number cancellation) and memory (immediate recall), which reflected increased subjective alertness. These consistent and wide ranging improvements in performance are interpreted as reflecting the effects of the combination of ingredients.
(I added the bold and underline to the last sentence)
Someone had posted a while ago a caffiene study where huge doses left people practically useless. Ill look around, Keau
You mean someone received grant money to figure out something that I learned in college?
That study on red bull… I know the point was to emphasize the combination effect, but was that on trained or untrained individuals and how much improvement did they record? I can’t get into the full text.
I recently did a lot of training. I found that when coffee stopped working Reb Bull kept working.
I think it is because the active ingredient are different. I was clearly immune to caffine by the end of the training cycle, so if it was only stimulant in Red Bull is caffine I don’t think it would have worked.