The case in summary: A large Norwegian study has for the first time documented that energy drinks can negatively affect sleep. Even small amounts, like one to three cans a month, can disrupt sleep. The study used data from almost 54,000 Norwegian students, and found a clear connection between the amount of energy drink consumed and the number of hours of sleep. Both men and women who reported daily use slept around half an hour less than those who drank little or nothing. Higher consumption was associated with an increased risk of sleep problems across all the points studied. The researchers believe the results show a robust association between high consumption of energy drinks and different sleep patterns. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. In recent years, there has been a lot of writing about energy drinks, and most of them are not encouraging. Nevertheless, we consume this drink like never before. According to statistics from the Brewery and Beverage Association, the Norwegian people drank 68 million liters of energy drink in 2022. Now a new Norwegian study shows that only small amounts can lead to poorer sleep. Just drinking one to three cans a month can disrupt your night. – Previous studies from other countries have shown similar trends, but it has not been documented in Norway before, says Siri Kaldenbach. She is a clinical nutritionist and is writing a PhD on the use of energy drinks among children and young people in Norway. Kaldenbach has primarily become involved in this topic because she believes it is important to find the consequences of a product that is so heavily promoted, but about which very little is actually known. – Perhaps especially considering the long-term consequences, she says. Over 50,000 students responded Although energy drinks have also previously been linked to reduced sleep, it has not been specifically known which aspects of sleep it affects. Nor has it been looked at whether there may be differences between different sexes. Figures collected by FHI last year show that energy drinks have become common from the age of 13. As many as 58 per cent of pupils at secondary school and 72 per cent at upper secondary school drink this. To find new answers, the researchers behind the new study went to great lengths. They have used data from close to 54,000 Norwegian students who have participated in the Student Health and Well-being Study (SHOT22). Siri Kaldenbach is writing her doctorate at Sykehuset Innlandet. The participants are between 18–35 years of age and represent the entire country. Among other things, the students were asked how often they drink energy drinks, and in addition they were asked relevant questions related to sleep. The results showed that there was a clear connection between the amount that was drunk and the number of hours they spent on the pillow with their eyes closed. Do you drink energy drinks? Yes, but not weekly Almost every day Maybe a box a month Rarely or never Show results – A mother at home who is not so excited At Bunnpris at Tyholt in Trondheim, news meets several young people who are asked how often they drink energy drinks. Only one in eight we speak to says that it is consumed at most once a month. The other seven answer that this is something they drink up to several times a week. And that it depends a little on how much money they have to move around with. – It will be a couple of times a week. Mostly because it tastes good, but I don’t get much out of it, says Mia Dretvik. She goes on to say that she hasn’t really considered what it can do to her body. But says that she does not struggle to sleep. Linus Bele Andreassen drinks a little more. – Four times a week, I think. I think it’s one of the better things you can get, so then it will be a Red Bull or something like that. Nor does he notice that it affects his sleep. – But I have a mother at home who is not so enthusiastic, says Andreassen. Mia Dretvik drinks energy drinks about twice a week. Photo: Jørgen Leangen / news Worse for women or men? Both men and women who reported daily use slept around half an hour less than those who drank little or nothing. Those who drank heavily also said that they woke up more often after falling asleep. They also took longer to fall asleep. Overall, higher consumption was associated with an increased risk of sleep problems across all time points studied. The most obvious was that the number of hours of sleep per night was reduced. The researchers also saw that men generally drink more of this than women do. But the sleep problems were independent of gender. Study on energy drinks and sleep The researchers found the following: Differences in consumption between men and women. 5 percent of men answer that they drink this daily. 3 percent of women answer the same. Both sexes who drink energy drinks daily sleep half an hour less than those who report occasional use. Overall, higher consumption was associated with an increased risk of sleep problems across all aspects studied. People who drink 1-3 units a month were also at greater risk of poorer sleep compared to those who never drink energy drinks. May be reason to introduce measures On average, one liter of energy drink contains 150 mg of caffeine. Some varieties as much as 320 mg of caffeine per liter. For comparison, cola contains 100 mg per litre, and regular black coffee 400 mg per litre. The new study is based on observations, which means that no conclusions can be drawn regarding cause. Because there is also the possibility that you can turn it all around and say that more students drink energy drinks because they don’t sleep well and need a pick-me-up. Nevertheless, the researchers believe that these results show a robust association between high intake and different sleep patterns. – It is important to identify risk factors linked to sleep problems for students. And our results suggest that the frequency of energy drinks may be a reason to take action, write the researchers. But should there be an age limit? – I have no opinion on whether there should be an age limit on the products, but I think it is important that young people are informed about what energy drinks contain, says Kaldenbach to news.
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Norwegian study finds clear associations between energy drinks and poorer sleep – news Trøndelag – Local news, TV and radio
