An increasing number of American teenagers use caffeine sachets to stay alert and have punch, according to experts, who fear that this trend will soon spread in the United Kingdom.
Small sachets similar to tea sachets, placed between the lip and the gum, directly inject a dose of caffeine into the blood.
Some influencers promote these products on social networks. They buy them from gym lovers to improve their performance or students who want to be alert for exams.
Tiktok Shop sells many brands and flavors that could appeal to young people, said Doctor Rob Van Dam, from George Washington University.
But with a single sachet containing as much caffeine as two cups of normal coffee, it could be easy to take too much and have bad side effects, he said.
To read also on BBC Africa:
There is already a growing concern in the United Kingdom concerning the use of nicotine or SNU bags by young people.
The caffeine sachets are also discreet – you cannot know if someone has one in your mouth – which makes them easy to hide from parents and teachers.
Some product fans boast of having a “buzz” using two sachets both for an additional caffeine thrust.
As caffeine is quickly absorbed, the effects can start a few minutes after ingestion and last several hours. The levels can become uncontrollable.
Doctor Van Dam told BBC News: “Young people can have less tolerance for caffeine and there is a chance that they end up in the emergency room if they consume too much.”
Why is the caffeine and what happens if you consume too much?
Caffeine is a stimulant that can make you more alert and less sleepy because of its effect on the brain and the nervous system.
Lewis James, from the School of Sports, Exercise and Health Sciences of the University of Lughborough, says there are good proofs that caffeine can help make exercise easier.
It has become one of the most regularly used supplements by athletes.
When you exercise, your body produces a chemical called adenosine that makes you feel tired. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in your nerves, so your brain perceives less pain and fatigue.
But it also acts on other parts of the body – including the cardiovascular system -, which can be risky.
High levels can cause acceleration of heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias and convulsions.
Although rare, there are deaths caused by an excess of caffeine.
Some people are more sensitive to caffeine than others and may feel nauseating, anxious and irritable, and have headache even in lower doses.
In general, up to 400 mg of caffeine per day seem to be safe for most healthy adults – this represents about four cups of instant coffee.
Tea contains a little less, so five cups a day generally do not pose a problem.
Pregnant women are invited to halve their daily consumption to 200 mg or less.
Children and adolescents are also more likely for the risks and potential of overdose.
This is why, for example, energy drinks containing more than 150 mg of caffeine must already wear labels indicating: “High content in caffeine. Not recommended for children, pregnant or lactating women.”
Watch other drinks or foods containing caffeine
Doctor Van Dam says it is easy to abuse it. Caffeine is in many drinks and certain foods, so it is important to check the quantity you consume.
“While it is more difficult to make a coffee overdose, with these products, it is easier, especially if young people also consume energy drinks,” he explains.
The doctor says that some products contain more caffeine than indicated on the label.
- Coffee: A cup contains approximately 100-140 mg of caffeine, but this may vary considerably;
- Tea: a cup contains about 75 mg;
- Energy drinks: They often contain 80 mg in a 250 ml can;
- Gaser drinks: they generally contain around 40 mg per can;
- Chocolate: there are about 25 mg of caffeine in a 50 g bar of dark chocolate and about 10 mg in a 50 g bar of milk chocolate.
Dentists say that their long -term use can irritate gums – in the same way as snus and nicotine sachets.
Some experts fear that caffeine sachets will be a gateway to the use of these products.
Bini Suresh is responsible for dietetics at the Cleveland Clinic in London and spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association (BDA). She says that using sachets may seem “trendy” or harmless, but there is a real risk of normalizing the use of stimulants in adolescents and young adults, which could create dependence patterns.
“Although caffeine can give a temporary boost, it can disrupt sleep and worsen fatigue over time, especially in children and adolescents who are more sensitive to its effects,” she explained.
If young people consume caffeine, BDA and NHS, the United Kingdom’s health system, both advise caution.
The European Food Safety Authority suggests 3 mg/kg body weight as a higher limit for children and adolescents, which means that a child weighing 30 kg should not consume more than 90 mg per day.
Instead of taking caffeine, Ms. Suresh says it is much better to focus on regular meals, hydration and nutrient -rich foods, which support stable energy levels throughout the day.
A healthy diet with enough iron, protein and slow release carbohydrates should do the trick, she said.
