Scientific publications and official assessments presented by type of evidence, study population, findings, references and limitations.
This collection presents sources on the safety and composition of energy drinks, physical and cognitive performance, driving, and metabolism. Each entry links directly to the original publication or authority.
EFSA’s comprehensive scientific assessment of single and daily caffeine intake, the population groups considered and potential interactions.
Limitation: The assessment concerns caffeine intake from all dietary sources; it is not a consumption recommendation for any single product.
The international ranking compared product and packaging characteristics of energy drinks against 36 criteria. According to the project, the ten highest scoring products also underwent laboratory checks in Switzerland.
Limitation: One selected product per brand was included; laboratory checks covered the ten finalists.
Nébih’s 2024 Szupermenta energy drink test covered food safety, composition and labelling, with results for the products examined.
Limitation: The findings concern the product samples tested at the time of the assessment.
Energy drinks may improve running performance.
Limitation: The tested drink differed from the placebo in several ingredients, so the independent effect of each ingredient cannot be determined.
Energy drinks may improve cycling performance without increasing perceived exertion.
Limitation: Results from a small sample of trained cyclists and one formulation cannot be extended to every cyclist or energy drink.
Energy drinks may improve driving performance.
Limitation: The experiment measured simulated driving outcomes, not crash risk. Caffeine does not make driving while dangerously tired safe.
Energy drinks may reduce sleepiness and improve alertness while driving.
Limitation: The study measured the effects of one drink under defined conditions; the result cannot be generalised to every driving situation.
Energy drinks may improve reaction time and physical performance.
Limitation: The small sample consisting exclusively of male students limits how widely the findings can be applied.
Energy drinks may improve memory and attention.
Limitation: Results from short laboratory tasks do not establish lasting cognitive improvement.
Energy drinks may increase energy expenditure and support metabolism.
Limitation: Laboratory changes in metabolism alone do not establish lasting changes in body weight or body composition.
Energy drinks may increase calorie expenditure and fat oxidation.
Limitation: Laboratory changes in energy expenditure do not establish lasting fat loss; funding should be considered alongside the original publication.
Sources should be read alongside the original publication. The methods, number of participants, study duration, control condition, limitations and funding all matter. Including a source does not mean automatically endorsing every conclusion or interpretation it contains.