Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Public health, University of Kolwezi, Kolwezi 07301, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Unit of Toxicology and Environment, School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi 07601, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Jul 17;18(14):7617. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18147617.
The consumption of energy drinks (EDs) is increasing in the general population, but little is known about the consumption of EDs among pupils in Africa. This study was designed to assess the consumption of EDs among pupils between 10 and 17 years of age and to assess average caffeine concentrations contained in EDs sold in Lubumbashi.
We conducted a cross-sectional survey in five schools using a standardised questionnaire taken face-to-face. Samples of locally purchased EDs were analysed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Ultra-Violet spectrometry (HPLC-UV).
Of 338 pupils (54% girls), 63% reported having consumed at least one ED in the last week and 34% drank at least one ED a day. The cheapest ED was the most widely consumed. Among pupils having consumed at least one ED in the last week, 79% reported consuming it for refreshment and 15% to get energy. For those who reported not consuming EDs, 40% reported that their parents or teachers forbade them to drink EDs. Some (14%) teenagers, mainly boys, mixed ED with alcohol. The concentrations of caffeine measured in twelve brands of EDs ranged from 7.6 to 29.4 mg/100 mL (median 23.3), giving caffeine contents of 37.5 to 160 mg (median 90 mg) per can or bottle. The estimated daily intake of caffeine through EDs was between 51.3 mg and 441.3 mg among those consuming EDs regularly.
Our study convincingly demonstrates that caffeine-containing EDs are not only consumed by youngsters living in affluent societies. We documented widespread regular consumption of EDs among (pre-)adolescent schoolchildren living in Lubumbashi, a large city of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In view of the global market expansion of caffeinated EDs, it is reasonable to suspect that similar surveys in other urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa would yield similar findings. Pricing and advertising regulations and education on EDs are necessary to limit the regular consumption of EDs among adolescents.
在普通人群中，能量饮料（EDs）的消费正在增加，但对于非洲小学生的 ED 消费情况知之甚少。本研究旨在评估 10 至 17 岁小学生的 ED 消费情况，并评估卢本巴希市销售的 ED 中所含的平均咖啡因浓度。
我们在五所学校进行了一项横断面调查，使用面对面的标准化问卷进行。通过高效液相色谱-紫外光谱法（HPLC-UV）分析当地购买的 ED 样本。
在 338 名学生（54%为女生）中，63%的人报告在过去一周内至少饮用过一种 ED，34%的人每天至少饮用一种 ED。最便宜的 ED 是最广泛消费的。在过去一周内至少饮用过一种 ED 的学生中，79%的人表示饮用 ED 是为了提神，15%的人表示饮用 ED 是为了补充能量。对于那些报告不饮用 ED 的人，40%的人表示他们的父母或老师禁止他们饮用 ED。一些（14%）青少年，主要是男孩，将 ED 与酒精混合饮用。在 12 种 ED 品牌中测量的咖啡因浓度范围为 7.6 至 29.4 mg/100 mL（中位数为 23.3），每罐或每瓶的咖啡因含量为 37.5 至 160 mg（中位数为 90 mg）。定期饮用 ED 的人每天通过 ED 摄入的咖啡因量在 51.3 至 441.3 mg 之间。
我们的研究令人信服地表明，含咖啡因的 ED 不仅被生活在富裕社会的青少年消费。我们记录了生活在刚果民主共和国（DRC）大城市卢本巴希的（前）青春期学童中广泛的定期 ED 消费。鉴于含咖啡因的 ED 在全球市场的扩张，有理由怀疑在撒哈拉以南非洲的其他城市地区进行类似的调查会得出类似的发现。需要对 ED 进行定价和广告监管以及教育，以限制青少年对 ED 的定期消费。
