Energy drinks tied to allergic disease in teens

Frequent intake of energy drinks among adolescents is associated with allergic diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, a recent study has found.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis including 129,809 Korean adolescents (aged 12–18 years, 67,056 boys) who had participated in the Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-based Survey. Data retrieved from the survey included the intake frequency of three energy drinks, as well as history of asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis within the last 12 months and throughout life.

Participants were divided into five groups of intake frequency: 0 (n=113,507), 1–2 (n=12,048), 3–4 (N=2,493), 5–6 (n=810), and ≥7 (n=951) times per week. Asthma throughout life was 30 percent more likely in participants in the top vs bottom categories of intake (odds ratio [OR], 1.30, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.64; p=0.025). A similar effect was observed regarding asthma in the last 12 months (OR, 1.65, 95 percent CI, 1.16–2.35; p=0.006).

Allergic rhinitis was likely to have occurred in the last 12 months among participants who consumed energy drinks ≥7 times per week (OR, 1.21, 95 percent CI, 1.02–1.44), as was atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.49, 95 percent CI, 1.17–1.90; p=0.001). No interactions were reported for the lifetime prevalence of either allergy outcomes.

“This study suggests the possible adverse effects of energy drink consumption. Longitudinal research is needed to clarify the effects of frequent energy drink consumption on allergic diseases,” the researchers said.