The regulatory agency in charge of foods and drugs control in Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has enjoined Nigerians to be cautious when taking energy drinks because of associated health risks.
Speaking on the health-related dangers of indiscriminate consumption of energy drinks in Nigeria, Mrs Adeline Osakwe, Director, Pharmacovigilance and Post Market
Surveillance Directorate of the agency said, energy drinks are
supplements that contained high caffeine and carbohydrate which are made
to make a person hyper active.
She said: “The effect of the caffeine in energy drink makes people to get
high, to be stimulated and of course, it makes the person’s heart to
beat faster.
“It can have adverse effects, especially when the person over uses
them and it accumulates in the system. The caffeine in it can lead to
increase in blood pressure.
“It stimulates the heart to the extent that it worsens heart disease
condition; energy drink should not be used like drinking water,’’ she
warned.
She said energy drinks were mostly recommended for sports
people when it was necessary to boost their energy after or before
sport.
She however noted that energy drink had not been considered as narcotic or hard
drug because it only contained caffeine and its effects could be
controlled.
"NAFDAC would intensify its awareness and
enlightenment campaign on consumption of the product, advising that
children should not be given energy drink," she said.
On the subject of drug abuse, she said many Nigerians are abusing cough syrups that contain codeine. She said the agency (NAFDAC) remains committed to safeguarding the health of
Nigerians. She then urged members of the public to support NAFDAC in achieving its
mandates.
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