Common Questions and Misconceptions About Energy Drinks: What Does the Scientific Evidence Really Show?

Energy drinks are a commonly consumed beverage, and studies suggest a possible performance-enhancing effect. A Google Scholar search using the keywords "energy drinks" and "exercise" yields numerous results, underscoring the voluminous research on this topic. However, there are questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of energy drinks.

International society of sports nutrition position stand: β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB).

Position Statement: The International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) bases the following position stand on an analysis of the literature regarding the effects of β-Hydroxy-β-Methylbutyrate (HMB). The following 12 points have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: 1. HMB is a metabolite of the amino acid leucine that is naturally produced in both humans and other animals.

Fat-Free Mass Index in Sport: Normative Profiles and Applications for Collegiate Athletes.

Jagim, AR, Harty, PS, Jones, MT, Fields, JB, Magee, M, Smith-Ryan, AE, Luedke, J, and Kerksick, CM. Fat-free mass index in sport: normative profiles and applications for collegiate athletes. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1687-1693, 2024-Recent concerns have been raised regarding the ethical considerations of conducting body composition assessments in sports.

Common questions and misconceptions about protein supplementation: what does the scientific evidence really show?

Protein supplementation often refers to increasing the intake of this particular macronutrient through dietary supplements in the form of powders, ready-to-drink shakes, and bars. The primary purpose of protein supplementation is to augment dietary protein intake, aiding individuals in meeting their protein requirements, especially when it may be challenging to do so through regular food (i.e.

Milk or Kefir, in Comparison to Water, Do Not Enhance Running Time-Trial Performance in Endurance Master Athletes.

This study compared flavored kefir (KFR) and flavored milk (MLK) as a recovery drink in endurance master athletes. Using a randomized, placebo-controlled, non-blinded crossover design, 11 males and females completed three testing visits whilst acutely ingesting either KFR, MLK, or water as a placebo (PLA). KFR supplementation occurred for 14 days before the KFR-testing day, followed by a 3-week washout period.

Prevalence of adulteration in dietary supplements and recommendations for safe supplement practices in sport.

The prevalence of dietary supplement use among athletes continues to rise with 60-80% of athletes often reporting current or previous use of dietary supplements. While select dietary ingredients have been shown to improve acute performance and enhance training adaptations over time, it is important to still consider the risk vs. reward for athletes before opting to consume a dietary supplement.

No Effect of Breakfast Consumption Observed for Afternoon Resistance Training Performance in Habitual Breakfast Consumers and Nonconsumers: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Background: Pre-exercise meal frequency is commonly believed to impact exercise performance, but little is known about its impact on resistance training.

Objective: This study investigated the impact of breakfast consumption on afternoon resistance training performance in habitual breakfast consumers and nonconsumers.

Design: A randomized, crossover study was conducted in Lubbock, TX between November 2021 and May 2022.

Evaluation of novel beverage formulations for hydration enhancement in humans.

This study evaluated the influence of novel beverage formulations on bioimpedance- and urine-based hydration markers. Thirty young healthy adults (n=16 females, n=14 males; age: 23.2±3.

Effects of a ready-to-drink thermogenic beverage on resting energy expenditure, hemodynamic function, and subjective outcomes.

Background: Thermogenic supplements are often consumed by individuals seeking to improve energy levels and reduce body fat. These supplements are sold in powdered or ready-to-drink (RTD) forms and consist of a blend of ingredients such as caffeine, green tea extract, and other botanical compounds. While there is evidence that thermogenic supplements can positively affect resting energy expenditure (REE), the effect varies based on the combination of active ingredients.

Anthropometric Predictors of Conventional Deadlift Kinematics and Kinetics: A Preliminary Study.

The purpose of this preliminary analysis was to determine if there are relationships between anthropometric characteristics (arm length, torso length, thigh length, and shank length) and conventional deadlift (CDL) kinematics and kinetics during a 5 sets of 5 repetitions (5 × 5) CDL routine in resistance-trained males. Eleven males who had experience with the deadlift exercise were included in this analysis (age: 21.5 ± 1.

International society of sports nutrition position stand: energy drinks and energy shots.

Position Statement: The (ISSN) bases the following position stand on a critical analysis of the literature regarding the effects of energy drink (ED) or energy shot (ES) consumption on acute exercise performance, metabolism, and cognition, along with synergistic exercise-related performance outcomes and training adaptations. The following 13 points constitute the consensus of the Society and have been approved by the Research Committee of the Society: Energy drinks (ED) commonly contain caffeine, taurine, ginseng, guarana, carnitine, choline, B vitamins (vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12), vitamin C, vitamin A (beta carotene), vitamin D, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium), sugars (nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners), tyrosine, and L-theanine, with prevalence for each ingredient ranging from 1.3 to 100%.

Assessing the reliability and cross-sectional and longitudinal validity of fifteen bioelectrical impedance analysis devices.

The purpose of this investigation was to expand upon the limited existing research examining the test-retest reliability, cross-sectional validity and longitudinal validity of a sample of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) devices as compared with a laboratory four-compartment (4C) model. Seventy-three healthy participants aged 19-50 years were assessed by each of fifteen BIA devices, with resulting body fat percentage estimates compared with a 4C model utilising air displacement plethysmography, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and bioimpedance spectroscopy. A subset of thirty-seven participants returned for a second visit 12-16 weeks later and were included in an analysis of longitudinal validity.

Liposomal Mineral Absorption: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Multivitamin/mineral (MVM) supplements are one of the most popular dietary supplement categories. The purpose of this analysis was to determine if a novel liposomal delivery mechanism improves mineral absorption from an MVM product. In a randomized crossover trial, 25 healthy participants (12 females, 13 males) completed two testing sessions in which blood samples were collected at baseline and 2, 4, and 6 h following the ingestion of either a liposomal MVM or a nutrient-matched standard MVM.

Influence of Acute Water Ingestion and Prolonged Standing on Raw Bioimpedance and Subsequent Body Fluid and Composition Estimates.

This study evaluated the influence of acute water ingestion and maintaining an upright posture on raw bioimpedance and subsequent estimates of body fluids and composition. Twenty healthy adults participated in a randomized crossover study. In both conditions, an overnight food and fluid fast was followed by an initial multi-frequency bioimpedance assessment (InBody 770).

Sport Differences in Fat-Free Mass Index Among a Diverse Sample of NCAA Division III Collegiate Athletes.

Brandner, CF, Harty, PS, Luedke, JA, Erickson, JL, and Jagim, AR. Sport differences in fat-free mass index among a diverse sample of NCAA Division III collegiate athletes. J Strength Cond Res 36(8): 2212-2217, 2022-Fat-free mass index (FFMI) is becoming a popular metric to determine an athlete's potential for future fat-free mass accrual or to identify athletes who may be at risk for low fat-free mass (FFM).

The influence of caffeinated and non-caffeinated multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements on resistance exercise performance and subjective outcomes.

Background: There is substantial consumer and practitioner interest in an emerging supplement class known as multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements (MIPS), largely due to their prevalence in resistance training communities as well as research findings demonstrating the ergogenic impact of caffeine on muscular performance. However, limited research has examined the potential efficacy of non-caffeinated MIPS, despite their growing popularity among those who are caffeine-sensitive or who train later in the day.

Methods: Twenty-four resistance-trained college-aged males (n = 12) and females (n = 12) completed three visits in which they ingested either a caffeinated MIPS (C), an otherwise identical non-caffeinated MIPS (NC), or placebo in a double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover fashion.

Physiological responses to acute fasting: implications for intermittent fasting programs.

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a dietary strategy that involves alternating periods of abstention from calorie consumption with periods of ad libitum food intake. There is significant interest in the body of literature describing longitudinal adaptations to IF. Less attention has been given to the acute physiological responses that occur during the fasting durations that are commonly employed by IF practitioners.

Prevalence and Amounts of Common Ingredients Found in Energy Drinks and Shots.

Background: Energy drinks are one of the most popular packaged beverage products consumed within the United States (US). Energy drinks are considered a functional beverage, a category that also includes sports drinks and nutraceutical beverages.

Purpose: The focus of the current study was to examine the nutrition fact panels of the top selling commercially available energy drink and energy shot products within the US to characterize common ingredient profiles to help establish a standard definition and ingredient profile of energy drinks and energy shots for consumers, health care practitioners, and researchers.

Military Body Composition Standards and Physical Performance: Historical Perspectives and Future Directions.

Harty, PS, Friedl, KE, Nindl, BC, Harry, JR, Vellers, HL, and Tinsley, GM. Military body composition standards and physical performance: historical perspectives and future directions. J Strength Cond Res 36(12): 3551-3561, 2022-US military physique and body composition standards have been formally used for more than 100 years.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry fat mass.

The present study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between total and segmental subcutaneous tissue thicknesses from ultrasonography (US) and total and segmental fat mass (FM) estimates from dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Traditional US FM estimates were also examined. Twenty resistance-trained males (mean ± SD; age: 22.

Tracking changes in body composition: comparison of methods and influence of pre-assessment standardisation.

The present study reports the validity of multiple assessment methods for tracking changes in body composition over time and quantifies the influence of unstandardised pre-assessment procedures. Resistance-trained males underwent 6 weeks of structured resistance training alongside a hyperenergetic diet, with four total body composition evaluations. Pre-intervention, body composition was estimated in standardised (i.

Comparison of Indirect Calorimetry and Common Prediction Equations for Evaluating Changes in Resting Metabolic Rate Induced by Resistance Training and a Hypercaloric Diet.

Rodriguez, C, Harty, PS, Stratton, MT, Siedler, MR, Smith, RW, Johnson, BA, Dellinger, JR, Williams, AD, White, SJ, Benavides, ML, and Tinsley, GM. Comparison of indirect calorimetry and common prediction equations for evaluating changes in resting metabolic rate induced by resistance training and a hypercaloric diet. J Strength Cond Res 36(11): 3093-3104, 2022-The ability to accurately identify resting metabolic rate (RMR) changes over time allows practitioners to prescribe appropriate adjustments to nutritional intake.

Predicting Adaptations to Resistance Training Plus Overfeeding Using Bayesian Regression: A Preliminary Investigation.

Relatively few investigations have reported purposeful overfeeding in resistance-trained adults. This preliminary study examined potential predictors of resistance training (RT) adaptations during a period of purposeful overfeeding and RT. Resistance-trained males ( = 28; = 21 completers) were assigned to 6 weeks of supervised RT and daily consumption of a high-calorie protein/carbohydrate supplement with a target body mass (BM) gain of ≥0.

Comparison of Energy Expenditure Observed between Scheduled Activities in Collegiate Team-Sport Female Athletes.

Energy needs of female team-sport athletes are poorly understood with no evidence highlighting differences present between scheduled activities. The purpose of this study was to examine the difference in energy expenditure between NCAA Division II female basketball (BBALL) and lacrosse (LAX) athletes during different scheduled team activities. Female BBALL ( = 13; 19.