Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Consumption of energy drinks (ED) raises concerns because of adverse health effects possibly linked with high levels of caffeine and sugar intake. The study looks at the scope of ED consumption as well as some of the associated characteristics.
METHODS: Thirty-six public colleges in the Canadian province of Québec agreed to participate in a descriptive cross-sectional study (n = 36). In February 201 3, participating colleges invited their students to answer an online questionnaire on consumption of ED, alcoholic ED (AED), and ED in combination with other psychotropic drugs. A descriptive and correlational analysis was carried out. Logistic regressions explored associations between ED consumption and associated characteristics.
RESULTS: Of the students who successfully completed the questionnaire and participated in the study (n = 10,283), a low proportion consumed ED (9.1 %; n = 935) and/or AED (1.1 %; n = 109) at least once a week in the previous month. Although low in proportion, a number of participants reported having used ED with other stimulant psychoactive substances (n = 247) and ≥3 ED/day (n = 193) or ≥3 AED/occasion (n = 167), which can pose a risk for serious adverse effects. Weekly ED consumption was associated with consumption of ≥20 cups of coffee/week, smoking, excessive use of alcohol and past use of cannabis, glues or solvents and amphetamines.
CONCLUSION: A majority of respondents are not heavy users of ED, AED, or ED with drugs. Yet, the profiles of ED consumption potentially harmful to health that characterize some participants indicate that the potential health consequences of such behaviour are of concern.
Résumé
OBJECTIFS: La consommation des boissons énergisantes (BÉ) préoccupe en raison des effets sur la santé potentiellement liés à l’ingestion de grandes quantités de caféine et de sucre. Cette étude examine l’ampleur du phénomène de la consommation de BÉ ainsi que certaines caractéristiques associées.
MÉTHODES: Trente-six collèges publics du Québec ont accepté de participer à une étude descriptive transversale (n = 36). En février 201 3, les collèges participants ont invité leurs étudiants à répondre à un questionnaire en ligne concernant la consommation de BÉ, de BÉ alcoolisées (BÉA), et de BÉ pris en combinaison avec d’autres psychotropes. Une analyse descriptive et corrélationnelle a été effectuée. Des régressions logistiques ont exploré les associations entre la consommation de BÉ et certaines caractéristiques associées.
RÉSULTATS: Des étudiants ayant complété avec succès le questionnaire et participé dans l’étude (n = 10 283), une faible proportion a consommé des BÉ (9,1 %; n = 935) et/ou des BÉA (1,1 %; n = 109) ≥1 fois/semaine dans le dernier mois. Bien que faible en proportion, nombre de participants ont rapporté avoir ingéré des BÉ de façon concomitante avec d’autres substances psychoactives stimulantes (n = 247) et ≥3 BÉ/jour (n = 193) ou ≥3 BÉA/occasion (n = 167). L’ingestion hebdomadaire de BÉ était associée à une consommation de ≥20 tasses de café/semaine, de tabac, de consommation excessive d’alcool, de cannabis, de colles ou de solvants et d’amphétamines.
CONCLUSION: La majorité des répondants ne sont pas d’importants consommateurs de BÉ, de BÉA, et de BÉ avec drogues. Tout de même, les profils de consommation de BÉ potentiellement à risque pour la santé, qui caractérisent certains participants, imposent de se préoccuper des conséquences sanitaires potentielles de ce comportement.
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Picard-Masson, M., Loslier, J., Paquin, P. et al. Consumption of energy drinks among Québec college students. Can J Public Health 107, e514–e519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5536
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.17269/CJPH.107.5536