5 hour energy shots

Living Essentials, LLC makes the 5-Hour Energy drink.The five hour energy drink has found its way into the gas stations and retail stores across the country. It is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The product claims to “help you feel sharp and alert for hours without the crash or jitters.” The drink contains a mix of B vitamins, the amino acids tyrosine and phenylalanine,taurine, malic acid, glucurolactone and caffeine. It contains zero sugar, zero herbal stimulants and four calories. The amount of caffeine varies depending on the energy shot. The maker claims the original 5-hour energy drink "contains caffeine comparable to a cup of the leading premium coffee." Extra Strength contains as much as 12 ounces of premium coffee, while Decaf 5-Hour Energy contains only as much caffeine as a half cup of decaffeinated coffee.

After going through all the information on the 5-hour energy homepage you cant help but feel enticed to buy a couple to try out. They seem to have everything you need but what concerns me the most is the amount of B-vitamins and caffeine it contains.

Ingredients in 5 hour energy drink that may call for health issues-

1. Niacin -is a water-soluble vitamin, and is also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin B3.  It can be found in many foods, including milk, eggs, fish, meat, and cereal grains.  Niacin is involved with the proper functioning of many oxidation-reduction reactions in the body, including the degradation of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and alcohol.  They also assist in the formation of macromolecules such as fatty acids and cholesterol.  The recommended daily intake for adolescents (14-18 years) and adults (older than 19 years) is 16 mg/day for males and 14 mg/day for females (Food and Nutrition Board, 1998).A side effect of taking niacin at levels as low as 30 mg/day can be a reddening and warming of the skin, called a “Niacin Flush” 5-Hour Energy warns the consumer of the possibility of Niacin Flush on the label of their product.  According to the Mayo Clinic, other, more serious side effects include “liver toxicity, worsening of stomach ulcers, and altered blood sugar or insulin levels or uric acid concentrations”. 
2. Vitamin B6 & Vitamin B12 - The amount of these ingredients concerns me the most. 5-hour energy shots has about 2000% of Vit B6 and 8333% of Vit B12. The makers also have posted a fancy explanation for this too on their site. They simply state that the B Vitamins in their supplement; B6, B12, B3, and B9 are water soluble, any amount that is not absorbed is “expelled with no toxic effects.” They even go on to say that those on B vitamin therapy take even higher doses. Sounds convincing right? But I would like to point out that one can suffer from toxicity of these vitamins.The classic sign of vitamin B₆ toxicity is peripheral neuropathy (nerve problems in the hands and feet). This can cause unusual and unexplained sensations, such as numbness, tingling "pins and needles" feelings, pricking, or burning. These sensations may sometimes affect the area around the mouth as well. If left untreated, the nerve damage can cause difficulty sensing vibrations and sensing the position of the limbs. The upper limit intake set by US FDA is 100 mg/day.

A heavy dosage of vitamin B12 is mostly considered harmless because it is soluble in water . Therefore, the part of unabsorbed vitamin B12 can be thrown out of the body through the colon. However, if there is substantial increase in the amount of vitamin B12 present in the body, it could increase the possibility of different types of cancers and other ailments.

There is a link between cancer and vitamin B12. This is because, intake of Vitamin B12 as a supplement activates cell division. However, it fails to identify healthy and unhealthy cells. Thus, it adversely facilitates the growth of cancerous cells. Patients using vitamin B12 to treat pernicious anemia may develop leukemia. Rise in level of vitamin B12 in our body can increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. If intake of vitamin B12 is accompanied by high cholesterol diet and animal protein, then stomach and esophagus cancer may occur.

It can also lead to excessive growth red blood cells as well as overall volume of blood, which is known as polycythemia vera. Vitamin B12 can lead to some diseases related to blood and blood vessels. Vitamin B12 can cause clotting of blood inside the blood vessels. When vitamin B12 is administered for the treatment of megaloblastic anemia, it has led to fatal conditions like hypokalemia and gout in some patients.

There is no definite upper limit of vitamin B12 consumption. Therefore, it is advisable to take this vitamin in moderate amounts only, and importantly in consultation with your doctor.

3. Caffeine: The makers do not disclose the amount of caffeine in the drink.

1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act:

Most energy drinks fall under the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act by claiming that the ingredients in the drinks are derived from healthy substances, such as vitamins, herbs and other natural sources.  Under this act, the Food and Drug Administration does not have to regulate the supplements before they are marketed, and it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to make sure the product is safe and effective.  The companies do have to disclose the ingredients found in their products, but for the ingredients included in the “other ingredients” section instead of the “Supplement Facts” section, the specific amounts (such as the amount of caffeine in 5-Hour Energy) does not have to be included.

In 1989, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) limited the amount of caffeine in OTC products to a maximum of 200 mg/dose.Caffeine has differing CNS, cardiovascular, and metabolic effects based on the quantity ingested. Average doses of caffeine (85-250 mg, the equivalent of 1-3 cups of coffee) may result in feelings of alertness, decreased fatigue, and eased flow of thought. High doses (250-500 mg) can result in restlessness, nervousness, insomnia, and tremors. In high doses, caffeine can cause a hyperadrenergic syndrome resulting in seizures and cardiovascular instability.

After all the research I would suggest everyone to avoid this drink as much as possible. While experts consider this energy beverage safe for moderate use, the effects of long-term use or excessive consumption is yet been researched. Overuse may have adverse effects such as nervousness, sleeplessness, irritability, tremors, flushing, muscle spasms or a temporary lack of muscle coordination. 

While the 5-Hour Energy drink is generally considered safe when used as directed, pregnant and nursing mothers, children under 12 years of age, and patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) should not consume this product.Those who are under medical care or on prescription medications should consult with their doctor before using the 5-Hour Energy drink or any nutritional supplement.

^{Lawsuit that I would like to bring your attention -} 

• Heart attack victim's spouse sues 5-Hour Energy maker for wrongful death

http://www.walletpop.com/2010/08/03/heart-attack-victims-spouse-sues-5-hour-energy-maker-for-wrongf/

New Food Pyramid

Sweet Surprise !! High Fructose Corn syrup

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently recommended limiting intake of added sugars found in food and drink to no more than 10 percent of daily calories, a step the WHO said could help stop the worldwide rise in obesity that is fueling the growth of such chronic diseases as type 2 diabetes. The WHO recommendation is far stricter than any that U.S. groups have produced.
But increasingly, it's not just the growing consumption of foods with added sugars that concerns some nutrition experts. What has also changed during the past four decades, the USDA figures show, is the type of sweeteners consumed -- a trend that some studies suggest may help to undermine appetite control and possibly play a role in weight gain.
In 1966, refined sugar, also known as sucrose, held the No. 1 slot, accounting for 86 percent of sweeteners used, according to the USDA. Today, sweeteners made from corn are the leader, racking up $4.5 billion in annual sales and accounting for 55 percent of the sweetener market. That switch largely reflects the steady growth of high-fructose corn syrup, which climbed from zero consumption in 1966 to 62.6 pounds per person in 2001.
From fruit-flavored drinks to energy bars, a huge array of sweetened foods and beverages that crowds grocery shelves, vending machines, restaurant menus, school lunches and kitchens have high fructose corn syrup. Recently there has been world wide discussion about the use of this product and have created such a negative picture about it!! Yesterday I had discussion with my friends and Guess what I discovered!! Just because consumption of HCFS is so controversial my friend actually doesn't eat any food item which contains this ingredient .. I couldn't help wonder is HFCS really that harmful for your health??
First we need to understand the difference between table sugar and high fructose corn syrup.Made from corn starch, high-fructose corn syrup is a thick liquid that contains two basic sugar building blocks, fructose and glucose, in roughly equal amounts. Sucrose, most familiar to consumers as table sugar, is a larger sugar molecule that breaks down into glucose and fructose in the intestine during metabolism.
Fructose is a naturally occurring simple sugar that's produced by many plants. It's very sweet, and it's more soluble in water than glucose, another simple sugar that's also made readily available by nature and is the body's main source of energy. Fructose and glucose have the same type of atoms but are put together differently. When you combine fructose with glucose, you wind up with sucrose, which is your basic table sugar.
Corn syrup is a glucose-heavy syrup made from corn starch. There's no fructose in corn syrup -- not naturally, at least. In 1957, researchers discovered an enzyme that could turn the glucose in corn syrup into fructose. This process was modified and improved upon in the 1970s, making it possible to mass-produce HFCS. The entire process involves several steps and three different enzymes, but eventually a syrup with around 90 percent fructose content is created, and this is blended down with untreated syrup (containing only glucose) into a mix of either 42 percent or 55 percent fructose. The rest is glucose.
An advantage of high-fructose corn syrup is that it "tastes sweeter than refined sugar," making it a popular ingredient for food manufacturers because it enables them to use less, says George A. Bray, former director of Louisiana State University's Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge. As a liquid, the syrup is easier to blend into beverages than refined sugar, according to the National Soft Drink Association (NSDA). Industry taste tests suggested that consumers liked food and drink with high-fructose corn syrup as much as refined beet or cane sugar.
Despite its name, HFCS doesn't contain much more fructose than table sugar—the product refined from beets or sugar cane. The stuff we put in our coffee, called sucrose, is a compound of equal parts fructose and glucose, while the corn syrup used in soft drinks is a mixture of 55 percent fructose and 42 percent glucose. (The sugar ratio in HFCS is about the same as in honey.) The ingredient is a favorite of food makers for practical reasons. Compared with sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup doesn’t mask flavors, has a lower freezing point and retains moisture better, which is useful in making foods like chewy granola bars. And because the corn crop in the United States is heavily subsidized, high-fructose corn syrup is also cheap. As a result, it’s now used in so many foods, from crackers to soft drinks, that it has become one of the biggest sources of calories in the American diet.
So one can't say table sugar better than high fructose corn syrup. Both are equally responsible for obesity & type 2 diabetes. It's prudent to consume any added sugar only in moderation.

Source : http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/a-new-name-for-high-fructose-corn-syrup/
mayoclinic.com