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Nutrition for Family Living
Susan Nitzke, Nutrition Specialist; [email protected]
Sherry Tanumihardjo, Nutrition Specialist; [email protected]
Shelly King-Curry, Nutrition Specialist; [email protected]
Gayle Coleman, Nutrition Specialist; [email protected]
Teresa Curtis, Nutrition Specialist, [email protected]
Amber Canto, Poverty & Food Security Specialist, [email protected]
Amy Korth, Wisconsin School Breakfast Specialist, [email protected]
March, 2013 Topics
Update on Energy Drinks
Vitamin B-12
Update on Energy Drinks
By Susan Nitzke
With urging from some U.S. Senators, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is considering
possible actions to regulate energy drinks. Following is a summary of resources and information
to update the article on energy drinks that appeared in our Nutrition for Family Living enewsletter in October, 2008 (http://www.uwex.edu/ces/wnep/specialist/nfl/mmpdfs/0810.pdf).
• Bub and Shelnutt from the University of Florida Extension have written an informative
fact sheet on “Facts about energy drinks” FCS80017. The fact sheet is available online at
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/FY/FY132400.pdf
•
The American Medical Association has a “Patient Page” handout on energy drinks that
contains expert advice and a detailed table of the caffeine content of various brands.
http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1487122
•
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published a clinical report on sports and
energy drinks for children and adolescents in 2011. The report has information on the
various ingredients and proper usage of these products. The abstract includes the
following guidance for pediatricians: “…stimulant substances contained in energy drinks
have no place in the diet of children and adolescents. Furthermore, frequent or excessive
intake of caloric sports drinks can substantially increase the risk for overweight or obesity
in children and adolescents.” Source:
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/05/25/peds.20110965.full.pdf+html
•
KL Blankson and others published a review and recommendations on “Energy drinks:
What teenagers (and their doctors) should know” in February of this year. (Pediatr Rev
2013;34:55-62). According to this latest report, energy drinks have been aggressively
marketed to adolescents who need better education on this topic. The report states that
caffeine use is associated with health effects such as palpitations, anxiety, insomnia,
digestive problems, elevated blood pressure, and dehydration. Popular brands have the
equivalent of 2-3 cups of coffee but few of the products disclose caffeine content on the
Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program • Family Living Programs • Cooperative Extension
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements.
Nutrition for Family Living
March 2013
labels. Energy drinks are often marketed as supplements, which reduces the Food and
Drug Administration’s ability to regulate their content and use.
•
A scholarly review of research on the potential toxicity of energy/sports drinks was
published in April, 2012 by Wolk and colleagues from the University of Massachusetts.
Abstract link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22426157
•
The American Beverage Association now recommends that energy drink companies state
on the label exactly how much caffeine is contained in each drink, and that the beverage
is not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women and people who are
sensitive to caffeine (source:
http://www.ameribev.org/files/339_Energy%20Drink%20Guidelines%20(final).pdf).
Implications for Extension Educators: The resources above have useful information for parents,
teachers, and youth leaders who need current information that is not biased by commercial
interests.
Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program • Family Living Programs • Cooperative Extension
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements.
Nutrition for Family Living
March 2013
Vitamin B-12
By Susan Nitzke
Background – Vitamin B-12 deficiency can cause tiredness, weakness, constipation, loss of
appetite, weight loss, and a specific kind of blood-cell disorder called “megaloblastic anemia.”
Severe lack of vitamin B-12 (cobalamin) can also cause nerve problems (e.g., numbness and
tingling in the hands and feet, problems with balance, depression, confusion, dementia, poor
memory). The presence of a B-12 deficiency can be identified by a blood test. Two population
groups that are especially vulnerable to deficiency of vitamin B-12 are older adults and
vegetarians. Vitamin B-12 deficiency is also a potential concern for people who have had
gastrointestinal surgery, people taking certain medications, and people with digestive disorders
such as celiac disease and Crohn’s disease. A rarer but severe cause of vitamin B-12 deficiency
is pernicious anemia which occurs among people who cannot absorb vitamin B-12 because their
bodies do not make a substance called intrinsic factor which is needed to absorb vitamin B-12.
Unfortunately, vitamin B-12 is also a popular topic for deceptive treatments and questionable
products (sublingual sprays, injections, nose drops) to counteract tiredness/fatigue without proper
evidence of deficiency.
Older adults -- Many older adults do not have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomach to
absorb the complex vitamin B-12 molecules that are naturally present in animal foods such as
meats and dairy products. Fortified foods and dietary supplements contain a form of vitamin B12 that is more easily absorbed. That is why the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends
that people 50 and older “consume foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as fortified cereals, or
dietary supplements.”
Vegetarians – The risk of vitamin B-12 deficiency among vegetarians, especially strict
vegetarians or vegans who eat no animal foods, has been a source of controversy and confusion.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association) position
statement on vegetarian diets recommends that vegans consume fortified foods or supplements
because “no unfortified plant food contains any significant amount of active vitamin B-12.” A
new review article summarizes published studies on this subject and reports that vegetarians of
all ages are at increased risk of B-12 depletion or deficiency and recommends that vegetarians
“take preventive measures to ensure adequate intake of this vitamin.”
Implications for Extension Educators Knowledge of these key vitamin B-12 recommendations
and research findings may be helpful as learners pose questions and share concerns about this
important nutrient. Referrals to nutrition professionals are often appropriate when addressing
questions about designing vegetarian diets, using specific supplements, and identifying/treating
nutrient deficiencies.
Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program • Family Living Programs • Cooperative Extension
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements.
Nutrition for Family Living
March 2013
Sources:
Pawlak R, Parrott SJ, Raj S, Cullum-Dugan D, Lucus D. How prevalent is vitamin B12
deficiency among vegetarians? Nutrition Reviews. 71(2):110–117.
American Dietetic Association. Vegetarian Diets. J Amer Diet Assoc. 109(7):1266-1282.
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. Chapter 4 Foods and Nutrients to Increase.
http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/Publications/DietaryGuidelines/2010/PolicyDoc/Chapter4.pdf
(pages 34 and 42).
Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program • Family Living Programs • Cooperative Extension
UW-Extension provides equal opportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX requirements.