Sports and Energy Drinks

THE NUMBER OF SPORTS AND energy drinks on the market today is creating quite a stir. It can be a challenge for renal dietitians to stay informed of the abundance of products and to guide chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients appropriately. By law, manufacturers do not have to provide amounts of certain ingredients that may be important to the CKD patient. This issue focuses on the vast array of sports and energy drinks that are enhanced with vitamins, minerals, caffeine, and unique herbal ingredients. Table 1 provides the reader with nutritional information on the most popular drinks.

Table 1. Nutritional Content of Sports and Energy Drinks

	Energy Drinks: 8 Ounces	Calories	Carbohydrate (g)	Sugars (g)	Protein (g)	Phosphorus (mg)	Calcium (mg)	Potassium (mg)	Sodium (mg)	Caffeine (mg)	Vitamin A	Vitamin D	Vitamin E	Vitamin K	Additional Additives	Manufacturer and Contact Information
	180 Energy Orange Citrus Blast (8.2 ounces)	120	33	30	0	ND (not detected)	1.5	33.7	25	85	0	0	0	0	Vitamins B6, B12, and C	Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, MO, 800-DIAL-BUD
	180 Orange Sugar Free	5	1	0	0	ND (not detected)	1.2	34.2	90	85	0	0	0	0	Vitamins B6, B12, and C
	180 Blue Acai	120	31	28	0	5.6	3.9	38.1	15	84	0	0	0	0	Vitamins B6, B12, and C
	180 Blue Acai Low Calorie	15	4	1	0	4.4	3.4	39.5	55	85	0	0	0	0	Vitamins B6, B12, and C
	180 Red Goji	130	31	27	0	4.8	2.18	48.8	25	84	0	0	0	0	Vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E, goji berry juice, guarana, lychee natural flavor
	AMP Energy Drink	110	29	29	0	34	0	5	65	71	0	0	0	0	Taurine, ginseng, guarana, calcium disodium EDTA, potassium benzoate, orange juice concentrate, ascorbic acid, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, hydrochloride	Pepsi Cola, Purchase, NY, 914-253-2000, www.pepsicola.com
	AMP Energy Overdrive	110	29	29	0	34	0	1	70	N/A	0	0	0	0	Taurine, ginseng, guarana, calcium disodium EDTA, potassium benzoate, niacinamide, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, vitamin B12, pyridoxine, hydrochloride
	Arizona Green Tea Energy Drink	100	26	25	0	N/A	0	N/A	10	100	0	0	0	0	Vitamin C, taurine, ginseng, inositol, guarana, milk thistle	Arizona Beverage Co., Lake Success, NY, 800-832-3775
	Arizona Green Tea Low Carb	10	3	3	0	0	0	0	10	100	0	0	0	0	Vitamin C, taurine, ginseng, inositol, guarana, milk thistle
	Bawls Guarana Drink	90	32	32	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	30	100	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Guarana	Bawls, Miami, FL, www.bawls.com (no telephone number)
	Bawls Guarana Cherry	90	25	25	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	30	100	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Guarana
	Bawls Guaranex Sugar Free	0	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	35	100	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Guarana
	Full Throttle	110	29	29	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	85	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, ginseng extract, acacia, glycerol ester of wood rosin, guarana extract	Coca Cola Co., Atlanta, GA, 800-439-2653
	Full Throttle Sugar Free	5	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	85	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, ginseng extact, acacia, sucralose, glycerol ester of wood rosin, carnitine, guarana extract
	Full Throttle Fury	110	29	29		N/A	N/A	N/A	85	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, ginseng extract, carnitine fumarate, guarana extract
	Full Throttle Fury Sugar Free	5	0	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	85	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, ginseng extract, sucralose, guarana extract
	Go Girl Energy Drink	0	0	0	0	65	N/A	40	N/A	150	0	0	0	0	Super Citrimax, taurine, glucuronolactone, bitamins B2, B3, B5, B6, and B12	Go Girl, West Sacramento, CA, 800-331-2059
	Go Fast Energy Drink	130 (11.9 ounces)	33	30	0	0	0	0	100	120	0	0	0	0	Australian honey, taurine, ginseng, guarana, milk thistle herb, sucrose	Go Fast Sports, Denver, CO, 800-895-7290
	Go Fast Energy Drink Light	30 (11.9 ounces)	1	0	0	0	0	0	100	120	0	0	0	0	Australian honey, taurine, ginseng, milk thistle Herb, sucralose
	Hansen's Energy Pro	120	32	32	N/A	Not tested for	0	N/A	25	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng, glucose, ginkgo biloba, natural caffeine, maltodextrin	Hanson's Energy Drinks, St. Corona, CA, 800-HANSENS
	Rumba Energy Juice (Hansen's Naturals)	120	28	28	N/A	Not tested for	40	320	5	N/A	8%	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng
	Monster Energy	100	27	27	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	180	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng, energy blend (L-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, maltodextrin)	Monster Beverages, Corona, CA, 866-322-4466
	Monster Lo Carb Energy	10	3	3	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	180	68	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng, energy blend (L-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, maltodextrin)
	Monster Khaos	90	21	21	1	N/A	30	N/A	15	80	2,590 IU	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng, energy blend (L-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, maltodextrin)
	Monster Assault	90	23	23	N/A	N/A	50	215	15	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax ginseng, energy blend (L-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, maltodextrin)
	Monster M-80	90	23	23	N/A	N/A	50	215	15	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, Pannax Ginseng, Energy Blend (L-carnitine, glucose, caffeine, guarana, inositol, glucuronolactone, maltodextrin)
	Rockstar (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	140	31	31	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	40	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.35 g (taurine, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, guarana seed extract, inositol, L-carnitine, Pannax ginseng, milk thistle extract)	Rockstar, Inc., Las Vegas, NV, 702-939-5535
	Rockstar SF (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	10	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	125	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.35 g (taurine, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, guarana seed extract, inositol, L-carnitine, Pannax ginseng, milk thistle extract)
	Rockstar Zero Carb (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	10	0	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	110	120	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.27 g (taurine, caffeine, green tea extract, L-carnitine, yerba mate leaf extract)
	Rockstar Juiced Energy Guava (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	90	21	20	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	30	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.35 g (taurine, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, guarana seed extract, inositol, L-carnitine, Pannax ginseng, milk thistle extract)
	Rockstar Juiced Energy Pommegranite (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	100	24	23	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	25	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.35 g (taurine, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, guarana seed extract, inositol, L-carnitine, Pannax ginseng, milk thistle extract)
	Rockstar Juiced (not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those sensitive to caffeine)	100	23	22	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	40	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Energy blend 1.35 g (taurine, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, guarana seed extract, inositol, L-carnitine, Pannax ginseng, milk thistle extract)
	SoBe Adrenaline Rush	130	34	33	0	N/A	0	20	95	78	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, D-ribose, L-carnitine, inositol, guarana, Pannax ginseng	Southbeach Beverage Co., Norwalk, CT, 800-588-0548
	SoBe Adrenaline Rush SF	20	2	0	0	N/A	0	50	240	78	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, D-ribose, L-carnitine, inositol, guarana, Pannax ginseng
	SoBe Essential Energy Orange	120	29	28	0	N/A	0	N/A	15	48	Not a significant source	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pannax ginseng root extract, guarana, yerba mate leaf extract
	SoBe Essential Energy Berry Pommegranite	120	29	28	0	N/A	0	N/A	15	48	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Pannax ginseng root extract, guarana, yerba mate leaf extract
	SoBe No Fear	130	36	33	1	N/A	0	25	115	87	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, inositol, Pannax ginseng extract, guarana extract, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, L-arginine
	SoBe No Fear Gold	130	34	33	1	N/A	0	20	110	87	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, inositol, Pannax ginseng extract, guarana extract, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, L-arginine
	SoBe No Fear SF	10	1	0	1	N/A	0	30	100	87	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, inositol, Pannax ginseng extract, guarana extract, grape seed extract, L-carnitine, L-arginine
	Tab Energy	6	0.1	0	Trace	0	Not a significant source	7	85	72	Not a significant source	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, ginseng extract, guarana extract, carnitine	Coca Cola Co., Atlanta, GA, 800-439-2653
	Vamp Energy Drink (8.3 ounces)	110	28	27	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	10	120	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, inositol, guarana, ginseng	TI Beverage Co., Beverly Hills, CA, 310-274-6600
	Red Bull Energy Drink (8.3 ounces)	110	28	27	<1	<1	0	1.2	200	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, glucuronolactone, B-group vitamins	Redbull North America, Inc., Santa Monica, CA, 310-393-4647
	Red Bull Energy Drink SF (8.3 ounces)	10	3	0	<1	<1	0	10.8	200	80	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, glucuronolactone, B-group vitamins
	Gatorade Endurance	50	14	14	0	N/A	<2% of daily value	90	200	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A		Gatorade Co., Chicago, IL, 800-884-2864
	Gatorade Thirst Quencher	50	14	14	0	N/A	Not a significant source	30	110	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
	PowerAde	65	17	15	0	N/A	N/A	32	53	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Niacin, B6, and B12	Coca Cola Co., Atlanta, GA, 800-439-2653
	PowerAde Option	10	2	2	0	N/A	N/A	33 (contains 6 mg of acesulfame-K)	52	0	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Niacin, B6, and B12
	PowerAde Advance	66	17	15	0	2	N/A	32	53	47	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	Taurine, carnitine, niacin, B6, and B12

N/A, not available; EDTA, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid; IU, International Units; SF, sugar free.

Sports and energy drinks are different from a nutritional standpoint. A sports drink is defined as a beverage designed to help athletes rehydrate and replenish sugar and other nutrients that can be depleted after strenuous training or competition. An energy drink is a beverage designed to give the consumer a burst of energy through a combination of ingredients including caffeine, vitamins, minerals, and exotic herbal ingredients. Some CKD patients may need a sports drink if they are training for or performing in a strenuous sports-related event that depletes their electrolytes and sugar. Energy drinks, if approved by the renal dietitian, may be appropriate for patients who can tolerate them.

An endless number of different energy and sports drinks are available today. This Product Update focuses on the most popular beverages found in most retail stores in the Northern California area. In the course of our research, most companies were willing to share the nutritional information requested. However, some companies did not have a telephone number listed on their website, e-mails were not returned, or the more detailed information simply was not available.

Most energy drinks contain herbal supplements such as guarana, yerba mate leaves, Pannax ginseng, gingko biloba, and milk thistle. When determining if an energy drink is appropriate, it is important to remember that herbal supplements often claim to provide health benefits with minimal scientific evidentiary support. Some herbs may interact with prescription medications and alter their effectiveness or interact in a harmful way. Some patients may be allergic to particular herbal compounds. Please note that the Food and Drug Administration does not regulate these compounds, and the potential for drug/nutrient interactions may be increased with the unique combinations of ingredients in these drinks.

Caffeine is also an ingredient meriting special attention. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant, causing potential side effects such as heart palpitations, feelings of anxiousness, irritability, restless sleep, and gastrointestinal upset. In comparing energy drinks to caffeinated soda or coffee, soda contains approximately 35 to 55 g of caffeine per 12 ounces, and 1 cup of coffee (6 ounces) contains anywhere from 50 to 200 mg of caffeine. Some energy drinks contain slightly more caffeine, insofar as the serving size listed is based on approximately 8 ounces.

Table 1 provides valuable information to the renal dietitian for better educating the CKD patient of the potential consequences of consuming sports and energy drinks, and ultimately for preventing possible toxicity after an excessive intake of vitamins, minerals, or other additives.

You will find an “N/A” (not available) in Table 1 for the following reasons: companies were unable to provide all of the information requested; we were unable to find all of the information on their respective websites; or we were unable to reach anyone in the company. This does not imply that CKD patients should or should not drink these products; it simply means the information was not available, and therefore the authors do not recommend these products until further information is available. As a case in point, some products contain guarana, an herbal supplement containing caffeine, but the caffeine amount is not listed.