Energy drinks and university students in Spain. Uses, effects and associations

Introduction: Energy drinks are carbonated drinks which purpose is to increase physical and mental performance. Its main ingredients are glucose, caffeine, taurine, glucoronolactone and vitamine B. Main objective: We aim to asses the frequency of the use of energy drinks and its purpose, among a population of university students. We aim also to correlate it with the use of other substances and their effects. Material and methods: Cross-sectional study designed throug an on line questionnaire launched in the Google DocsR platform, and answered by spanish university students between march and august of 2014. Statistical analysis was performed with statistical software SPSSR. Results: Out of 633 participants 221 were male (34,9%) and 412 female (65,1%). 384 (61%) had tried energetic drinks. Its use is higher in male (70%) than in female (55%). Between its effects we found the increase in academic performance (23,7%), tachycardia (34,9%), insomnia (33,6%), and anxiety (45,1%). We found an association between the intake of energy drinks and the use of psychoactive drugs, abuse drugs, alcohol, tobacco and marijuana (OR=1.43; 1.28; 1.5; 1.25; 1.28). During exams period we found an association between intake of energy drinks and change in feeding habits (OR=1.65). Finally, there is an association between the intake of energy drinks with the purpose of increasing academic performance and the feeling of having achieved it (OR=2.72). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of energy drinks intake between university students, specially in male, associated to exams period and in combination with alcoholic drinks. There is an association with the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and psychoactive drugs. We suggest it woud be convenient to design tryals to find out the association between its use and change in diet habits.