Doctors warn against energy drink consumption among teenagers

SPOKANE — Energy drinks are popular among teenagers, but one family says these drinks led to their daughter’s death.

A family in Texas has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a popular energy drink brand, claiming the drink is marketed toward teens and did not warn about health risks.

Dr. Matthew Loh, a pediatrician from MultiCare, says teenagers should be drinking less than 100 milligrams of caffeine a day. Energy drinks like Alani Nu have more than double that amount.

With flavors like Pink Slush or Tropical Vibe, teenagers are gravitating toward energy drinks.

“Like 75% of my teens come in. It’s, it’s also trendy. So even if the kid doesn’t feel like they need the caffeine, it’s a way that they can fit in,” Loh said.

But the Spokane doctor warns that drinking more than double or triple the recommended amount of caffeine can lead to health problems.

“Lots of my teens feel, palpitations or like your heart’s beating fast. You can feel more anxious. And really, something that all teens struggle with is getting enough sleep. The caffeine will last 5 to 10 hours in your body, and so it ruins your sleep,” Loh said.

The health concerns aren’t just immediate, but long-term as well.

“Excessive amounts of caffeine can cause things like cardiac arrest or arrhythmias, which are abnormal heart rhythms. So definitely. And so prolonged use or excessive use can cause that,” Loh said.

The Texas family is suing an Alani Nu distributor, saying their 17-year-old daughter died of an enlarged heart caused by drinking too much caffeine. The family says she would drink one or two Alani Nu drinks every day and that the brand is marketed toward young women and does not have proper warnings or consumption limits.

“I ask all my patients to just avoid energy drinks. It’s tough because they’re marketed towards teenagers, but they will have 200, 300, 350mg of caffeine. And in addition to that, they can have other stimulants,” Loh said.

Dr. Loh says these energy drinks have other stimulants that can enhance caffeine’s effect. He says to check the nutrition label beforehand. For teenagers who need an energy boost, he recommends coffee, tea or soda, which have significantly less caffeine.