Another Can of Bull?

Do Energy Drinks
Really Provide a Source of Energy?

By Cheryl D. Davis and Nancy A. Rice, Western Kentucky University

Based on a case by Merle Heidemann and Gerald Urquhart, Michigan State University
Do energy drinks really live up to their claims?

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2622366

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CQ#1: Which of the following best
describes your use of energy
drinks?
A. I have never tried an energy drink.
B. I drink an energy drink occasionally.
C. I drink an energy drink whenever I
need a “boost” of energy.
D. I drink an energy drink almost every
day.

3
CQ#2: I drink energy drinks because:

A. They do give me an energy boost.

B. They taste good.
C. They give me an energy boost and
they taste good.
D. I don’t drink energy drinks.

4
CQ#3: The average cost of a canned
energy drink is:
A. $1
B. $2
C. $3
D. $4

5
The Case
After spending several
years working at the
Sports Desk of the
Lansing State Journal,
Rhonda found the job of
her dreams as a writer
for Running Magazine.
The job was fantastic! Since high school, where she had
excelled in cross country, Rhonda had been a consistent
runner, participating in local races and those assigned to
her for her job. For her last assignment, she had run in
and reported about the Leadwood, South Dakota
marathon, and it was a blast!
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Rhonda’s Story
The day she returned, her boss
Charley walked in her office with
a can of Red Bull® in one hand
and a list of several other
energy drinks in the other.
“We’ve been getting a lot of
inquiries about the different
energy drinks on the market.
Do you know anything about
them?” Charley asked.

7
“I do know that people use
them for various
reasons,” replied
Rhonda. “They’re
primarily used by
athletes to provide some
“fuel” as they practice
and compete. Other
people use them more
casually as a way to
become more
‘energized.’ That’s
about all I know.”

8
“For your next assignment,” Charley continued, “I
want you to find out what each of the ingredients
in these drinks is and what it does for a runner or
for a non-athlete. You need to be very accurate
in your analysis. Determine what each
component really does for the body, not what
the marketers want us to believe it does. Then
look at the marketing claims to see if the
scientific facts match up to them. Here are the
marketing claims, a list of ingredients and
nutrition facts provided on the cans for
consumers.”

9
As Charley left the
office, Rhonda looked
over the materials.

“Guess I’ll have to

brush up on my
biochemistry. No
problem. I’m
interested in knowing
if my running would be
improved by drinking
this stuff.”

10
Rhonda perused the
marketing claims for each
drink on the list.
Red Bull®
(from advertising materials)
• is a functional product developed especially for
periods of increased mental and physical exertion.
• can be drunk in virtually any situation.
• improves performance, especially during times of
increased stress or strain.
• improves concentration and reaction speed.
• stimulates the metabolism.
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 Lo-Carb Monster Energy®
(from advertising materials)

• Tear into a can of the meanest energy

supplement on the planet. We went down
to the lab and cooked up a double shot of our
killer energy brew.
• We hacked out the carbohydrates and
calories, transplanted the “wicked buzz,” and
dialed in the flavor.
• Lo-Carb MONSTER energy drink still delivers
twice the BUZZ of a regular energy drink, but
only has a fraction of the calories.
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 Sobe Adrenaline Rush®
(from advertising materials)
• This maximum energy supplement
delivers an energy boost with a natural
passion fruit flavor. It’s lightly carbonated
with a clean smooth feel.
• This maximum energy supplement
delivers an energy boost with a unique
blend of natural energizing elements,
including d-ribose, l-carnitine and taurine.
It’s pure, concentrated energy in an 8.3
fluid ounce can.
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 Impulse®
(from advertising materials)
• Elevate Your Performance.
• Impulse® Energy Drink contains special
supplements to immediately enhance mental and
physical efficiency and give you the energy boost you
deserve…replenishing your strength.
• Impulse® Energy Drink gets its energy from a simple
source: nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that occur
naturally in the body and foods we eat. Enjoy: the wake-
up power of caffeine, the alertness-inducing properties of
taurine, the lift you get from vitamin B6 and B12.
Combined with Impulse’s other ingredients, these are
known to increase mental focus and physical well being,
enhance performance, and accelerate metabolism.
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Rhonda recalled that a food’s calorie content
was the simplest reflection of its energy
content. Looking at Charley’s list, she saw
that the different energy drinks contained the
following calories per can:

– Lo-Carb Monster® 20
– Red Bull® 110
– Sobe Adrenaline Rush® 140
– Impulse® 110

For comparison
– Coca Cola® 140
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 Rhonda realized that before she could start
analyzing the energy drinks, she needed to
know the answer to the following questions:

When we say something gives us “energy” what

does that mean?

What is a biological definition of energy?

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CQ#4: Food energy is the amount of stored
chemical energy in food that is available
following digestion and metabolism. The
most common value for expressing the
amount of available energy in food is:

A. Calvins
B. Joules
C. Ounces
D. Calories

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 How is food used for energy?
A brief review of metabolism
• Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary energy
molecule of organisms
• The hydrolysis of ATP provides the chemical energy that
powers most cell work.
• On the flip side, making ATP takes energy; this comes from
the oxidation of sugars and other reduced compounds.
• This energy is used to phosphorylate adenine diphosphate
(ADP) to make ATP

+ H20

ADP + Pi

ATP + 7.3 kcal/mol of ATP

18
Energy
 So, how do we get from food to ATP?
• Respiration and fermentation are two of the fundamental
chemical reactions that power metabolism.
• Metabolism is the process by which the cells break
down (or build up) glucose and produce ATP in order to
provide the cell with a constant source of energy.
• Glucose is a key intermediary in cell metabolism. Cells
use glucose to build fats, carbohydrates, and other
compounds; and cells recover glucose by breaking down
these molecules.
• Glucose is a monosaccharide (carbohydrate) that is
oxidized through either cellular respiration (under aerobic
conditions) or fermentation (under anaerobic conditions)
to produce ATP.

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 Matter conversions that accompany energy
transformations / transfers

Energy conversion Energy storage

(Photosynthesis) (Fats and carbohydrates)
CO2 + H2O + sunlight

O2 + (CH20)n

Glucose

Respiration Fermentation
Energy use Glucose + ADP + Pi
Glucose + O2 + ADP + Pi

Small organic molecules

CO2 + H2O + ATP (high yield!) + ATP (low yield)
But it is fast!
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CQ#5: ATP is used as an energy source for
nearly all cellular metabolic processes.
Which of the following macromolecules, if
available, is used preferentially for ATP
synthesis?

A. Amino acids
B. Caffeine
C. Proteins
D. Lipids
E. Carbohydrates

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 The combination of glycolysis, the
Krebs cycle, and the electron transport
chain is called cellular respiration.

Glycolysis Pyruvate processing Electron Transport

and Krebs Cycle and Oxidative Phosphorylation

NADH
NADH NADH FADH2
Electron transport chain
Krebs establishes a proton
Glucose Pyruvate Cycle CO2 gradient that is used to
produce ATP

ATP CO2 ATP O2 H20

ATP
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 Processing Glucose: Glycolysis
• Glycolysis, a series of ten chemical reactions that take
place in the cytoplasm of the cell, is the first step in
glucose oxidation.
• In glycolysis, glucose is broken down into two molecules
of pyruvate.
• Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is reduced to
NADH, an electron carrier that donates electrons to more
oxidized molecules.
• At the end of glycolysis, each molecule of glucose yields
a net gain of 2 ATP molecules.

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GLYCOLYSIS

24
CQ#6: The net products of glycolysis
are:
A. 2 ATP, 2 CO2 , 2 ethanol
B. 2 ATP, 2 NAD+, 2 acetate
C. 2 ATP, 2 NADH, 2 pyruvate
D. 38 ATP, 6 CO2, 6 H2O
E. 4 ATP, 2 FADH2, 2 pyruvate

25
 The Krebs Cycle
• In the presence of O2, the pyruvate of most cells
enters the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), in which
each pyruvate is oxidized to three molecules of CO2.
• 6 additional (NAD+) molecules are reduced to 6
NADH, and 2 FAD+ (a second electron carrier) are
reduced to form 2 FADH2.
• 2 additional ATPs are formed as the 2 pyruvates are
oxidized in the Krebs cycle.
• The Kreb’s cycle occurs in the mitochondria of
eukaryotic cells.

26
The Krebs Cycle

27
 Electron Transport
The high-potential-energy
electrons carried by NADH and
FADH2 participate in a series of
redox reactions. These
electrons are passed down an
electron transport chain (ETC)
in the inner mitochondrial
membrane of eukaryotes (and
in the cell membrane of
prokaryotes).

Simultaneously, protons are

pumped across the inner
mitochondrial membrane
generating a proton gradient
with high potential energy.

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 ATP Synthase
Intermembrane space

• The proton gradient

drives the
production of ATP
through the
mechanical rotation
of the enzyme ATP
synthase.
Matrix
ADP + Pi ATP
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CQ#7: You have a friend who lost 15
pounds of fat on a diet. Where did the
fat go?
A. It was released as CO2 and H2O.
B. It was converted to heat and then
released.
C. It was converted to ATP, which weighs
less than fat.
D. It was broken down into amino acids and
eliminated from the body.
E. It was converted to urine and eliminated
from the body.
30
Rhonda was determined to wade through the
confusing labeling of the drinks. The first thing
she needed to do was sort out the various
ingredients on the labels- a task that
consumers rarely undertake. She decided she
to determine a few things:
– What is the nature (sugar, fat, amino acid,
vitamin, etc.) of each ingredient listed on the
cans?
– What is the physiological role of each in the
human body?
– Which ingredients actually provide energy?
31
CQ#8: The most common ingredient in
energy drinks is caffeine. Do you think
caffeine is a source of energy?

A: Yes
B: No

32
Rhonda started her research with Caffeine. She
discovered that:
– small to moderate amounts (50-300 mg) of caffeine act as a
mild stimulant.
– Caffeine increases heart rate and blood pressure.
– Athletes have taken advantage of the stimulant effect of
caffeine for many years.

Rhonda also discovered that individuals differ in their

sensitivity to caffeine. Some are sensitive to the effects
of caffeine at very small doses, and pregnancy and age
can affect this sensitivity. Even in people who consume
caffeine regularly, the stimulant effect is not always
consistent. This suggests that we may actually become
less sensitive to the effects of caffeine over time.

33
Rhonda discovered that energy
drinks typically contain large
doses of caffeine. In fact, she
learned that energy drinks may
contain as much as 80 mg of
caffeine, the equivalent of a cup
of coffee. Compared to the 37
mg of caffeine in a Mountain
Dew, or the 23 mg in a Coca-
Cola Classic, that's a big punch!

She also found that many energy

drinks add other legal stimulants
like ephedrine, guarana, and
ginseng. 34
 Your Task:
• Research each ingredient found in one of the
energy drinks (or in Coca Cola®) using the
information provided in your handout. Work in
groups of two or three so that one person can
record the relevant information.
• Place each ingredient for your drink under the
proper heading in the table provided.
• We will summarize the information on the
boards in front of the room and then discuss the
results.
35
CQ#9: Based upon the class analysis,
which of the following “energy drinks”
actually provides more energy per can
than a 12oz can of Coca Cola®?

A. Red Bull®
B. Impulse®
C. Lo-Carb Monster®
D. SoBe Adrenaline Rush®
E. None of the above

36
Rhonda finished her research and started writing her article.
She wanted her article for Running Magazine to be a real
eye opener for the readers. Her overall message would be
to “Know What You're Drinking.”

Charley stopped by her office to see how everything was

going. “Hey Rhonda, so what about those energy drinks? Are
they good for you?”

“Oh hi Charley. Well, based upon my research I don’t think

they are necessarily bad for you, but they shouldn't be seen
as "natural alternatives" either. Some of the marketing claims
they make like "improved performance and concentration"
are down right misleading.”

“Really?” Charley sounded intrigued.

37
“Well, I think people should think of energy drinks
more as highly-caffeinated beverages. They’ll
have a much more accurate picture of what they are
and how they affect you.”

“These drinks are just loaded with stimulants – not

true sources of energy. I mean you wouldn't use
Mountain Dew as a sports drink, and you shouldn’t
use most of the energy drinks as a sports drink
either,” said Ronda.

38
“Sounds like good work, Rhonda.” Charley said as
he headed out the door.

“Oh, I forgot. I am going to include in my article

some information about the growing trend of
mixing energy drinks with alcohol. Apparently, a
drink made with Red Bull and vodka is very much
like mixing strong coffee and whiskey. Worse yet,
since energy drinks are stimulants and alcohol is a
depressant, the combination may be dangerous.

39
“There is a nation-wide concern about the marketing of
these mixed drinks. Moreover, both energy drinks and
alcohol are very dehydrating (the caffeine in energy drinks
is a diuretic). Dehydration hinders your body's ability to
metabolize alcohol and will increase the toxicity, and
therefore the hangover, the next day.” said Rhonda.

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=
3465186n%3fsource=search_video

“Sounds like a really important thing for young people to

know. You’ve done a great job, Rhonda. This will be a
super story for our magazine.”

40
CQ#10: Should you simply buy a soft
drink rather than one of these energy
drinks when you need an energy boost?

A. Yes
B. No
C. Still undecided

41
 Slide Credits
Slide 1
Description: Photo of a can of Red Bull®.
Author: Böhringer
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:070506_RedBull08.JPG
Clearance: Licensed in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic.

Slide 6
Description: Female photographer close taking pictures at marathon.
Author: Wolfgang Amri
Source: Dreamstime, ID: 10099451
Clearance: Copyrighted, licensed, royalty free.

Slide 7
Description: Generic energy drink can.
Author: Ashestosky
Source: Dreamstime, ID: 10573205
Clearance: Copyrighted, licensed, royalty free.

Slide 8
Description: Runner with paper drink cups.
Author: Wolfgang Amri
Source: Dreamstime, ID: 9102948
Clearance: Copyrighted, licensed, royalty free.

Slide 9
Description: Line drawing of Erlenmeyer shape.
Author: Danilo P
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Erlenmayer_shape.svg
Clearance: Licensed in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.
Slide 10
Description: Woman jogger with applied motion blur.
Author: Ronfromyork
Source: Dreamstime, ID: 1338730
Clearance: Copyrighted, licensed, royalty free.

Slide 16
Description: Drawing of lithium atom.
Author: Halfdan
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stylised_Lithium_Atom.png
Clearance: Licensed in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported.

Slide 18
Description: ATP → ADP
Author: Cheryl D. Davis and Nancy A. Rice, authors of this case study.
Clearance: Used with permission.

Slide 20 —Top left

Description: Green plant
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chélidoine.JPG
Clearance: Released by author into the public domain.

Slide 20 —Top right

Description: Potatoes
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Potatoes.jpg
Clearance: This image is a work of a United States Department of Agriculture employee, taken or made during the course of the
person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image is in the public domain.

Slide 20 —Bottom
Description: Runners
Author: Steve Gregory
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Bristol_Half_Marathon.jpg
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.
Slide 22
Description: Overview of cellular respiration
Author: Cheryl D. Davis and Nancy A. Rice, authors of this case study.
Clearance: Used with permission.

Slide 23
Description: Animal cell
Author: Jomegat
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Cell_parts.png
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.5 Generic license.

Slide 24
Description: Pathway of glycolysis
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:GlycolysisPathway.svg
Clearance: Released by author into the public domain.

Slide 26
Description: Mitochondrion
Author: Mariana Ruiz Villarreal LadyofHats
Source: Wikimedia Commons,
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Animal_mitochondrion_diagram_en.svg
Clearance: Released by author into the public domain.

Slide 27
Description: Krebs cycle
Author: YassineMrabet
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Citricacidcycle_ball.svg
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Slide 28
Description: Electron transport chain
Author: Fvasconcellos
Source: Wikimedia Commons,
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mitochondrial_electron_transport_chain
%E2%80%94Etc4.svg
Clearance: Released by author into the public domain.

Slide 29
Description: ATP Synthase
Author: Modified version of PDB image by User:TimVickers.
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ATPsynthase_labelled.png
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Slide 32
Description: Caffeine molecule
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Caffeine_molecule.png
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Slide 34
Description: Cup of coffee
Author: Julius Schorzman
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A_small_cup_of_coffee.JPG
Clearance: Used in accordance with Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.

Slide 39
Description: Skull and crossbones
Source: Wikimedia Commons, http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Skull_and_crossbones.svg
Clearance: Released by author into the public domain.