As I have started my journey to get my master’s degree, I have quickly realized just how time consuming it can be, and how few hours there seems to be in a day. Between classes, studying, work, and other personal commitments, trying to keep up can be exhausting. The late nights and early mornings can start to take their toll. Like many students, I have found myself reaching for energy drinks as a quick boost. Whether it's a coffee, Redbull, or a white monster from the vending machine on the second floor of the library. Recently though, I heard a rumor in class. I was told that energy drinks can lead to infertility in males. This obviously had me concerned with my increased consumption, so I decided to dig a little deeper.
In the brain, a neurotransmitter called adenosine binds to adenosine receptors. As adenosine binds to these receptors, it promotes drowsiness and fatigue. Caffeine works by acting as an antagonist, and binding to these receptors. It blocks the binding of adenosine, blocking its depressant effects (Varani et al., 2021). This binding of caffeine also leads to a release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine, making us feel even more alert and awake (Varani et al., 2021). Since the mechanism of caffeine occurs in the CNS, could this actually affect the reproductive system?
On its own, caffeine has been thoroughly studied on its relationship to male infertility. One study shows that moderate intake of caffeine from sources such as coffees and teas does not show negative effects on sperm count or sperm motility. It actually suggests that regular caffeine intake from coffee or teas has little to no impact on overall male fertility (Ricci et al., 2017). However, other research studying high levels of caffeine (ranging from 265mg/day to 700mg/day) can contribute to oxidative stress and DNA damage in sperm cells. Potentially reducing the quality of the sperm. (Ricci et al., 2017). This suggests that when caffeine is consumed from natural sources and drinking done in moderation, it is generally safe. When it comes to “harsher” forms of caffeine, the story seems to be quite different.
Energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bulls that are found all over campus have been shown to have more negative effects. Caffeine from energy drinks in the same study as about, showed linkage to lower semen volume, reduced sperm concentration, and even DNA damage in sperm cells (Ricci et al., 2017). Another study reported that men who regularly consumed energy drinks had poorer ejaculate quality than men who didn’t (Akaev & Adilov, 2021).
For students, grabbing an energy drink between classes or late at night in the library feels like the easiest solution to fatigue. But the research suggests that while moderate caffeine from coffee or tea is relatively safe, energy drinks may pose risks to male fertility. So, should colleges make these drinks so easily available on campus? From a nonmaleficence perspective, institutions have a responsibility not to contribute to harm. Having vending machines stocked full of them may be doing just that. On the other hand, people are allowed to make their own choices. Colleges should show autonomy by providing clear information about risks, and avoid creating an environment where energy drinks feel like the only option for surviving late nights.
Akaev, R. M., & Adilov, A. S. (2021). [The impact of energy drinks consumption on male reproductive health]. Urologiia, (5), 62–64. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34743434/
Ricci, E., Viganò, P., Cipriani, S., Somigliana, E., Chiaffarino, F., Bulfoni, A., & Parazzini, F. (2017). Coffee and caffeine intake and male infertility: a systematic review. Nutrition Journal, 16(1), 37. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12937-017-0257-2
Varani, K., Vincenzi, F., Merighi, S., Gessi, S., & Borea, P. A. (2021). Adenosine receptors as drug targets: novel therapeutic perspectives. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 12, 688361. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.688361
I really appreciate how you broke this down, it’s such a relatable topic for students, and you did a great job connecting the neuroscience of caffeine with the bigger picture of health and ethics. I hadn’t really thought about the difference between caffeine from coffee/tea versus energy drinks, but the way you highlighted the added risks of energy drinks makes a lot of sense. It’s interesting (and a little concerning) that the same compound can be relatively safe in one form but potentially harmful in another, especially when you add in sugar and other additives that energy drinks often contain. Im curious, do you think it would actually change students’ behavior if campuses provided more information about the fertility risks of energy drinks, or would most people just ignore it in the moment when they’re tired and cramming for exams? Also, did you find any research that related it to fertility in women ?
ReplyDeleteHi Jimena, I’m glad you enjoyed the read. I think the universities showing autonomy and providing students with all the health risks would reduce the amount sold on campus. But ultimately people will make their own decisions and will buy them elsewhere if they really want them (especially when cramming for exams). I didn’t do much research on women since I was informed about male infertility and sperm count.
DeleteThis was a really interesting post, it’s also interesting because my mom always gets upset when I drink redbull. One time she told me it’ll cause infertility for me. I relate on the late nights and energy drink habits. I liked how you explained how caffeine affects the brain chemistry and not just energy. The part about oxidative stress and DNA damage in sperm stood out to me. A lot of people underestimate the physiological toll that it could do to us besides keeping us awake. You also asked an ethical question at the end, if colleges should have these energy drinks on campus, and that also makes me question if colleges should make them easily accessible.
ReplyDeleteI’m glad you thought my post was interesting. Maybe for our next exams I wont drink so many white monsters.
DeleteThis was definitely enlightening. In the past, I stuck mostly to drinking teas and cautiously moderating my caffeine intake. However, with the need to study longer hours and keep a sharp focus, I've been drinking a lot of Alani's over the last month. I'm curious if infertility becomes a big topic in males in the future, and can be traced back to companies that make energy drinks. Would we see a rise in lawsuits or regulations that are placed on companies that have to put in place warnings of caffeine doses and the long-term effects if not followed?
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the articles you did on the effect of caffeine, are you planning to make changes to your selection of energy drinks?
I loved reading your post because just like many other people, I enjoy a nice cold redbull during an exhausting day. While it may work to provide a temporary energy boost, I do not feel this boost of energy is worth risking reproductive health. Since I have read your blog post, I did some of my own research and I found that moderate consumption of coffee is actually somewhat beneficial! I found that coffee contains has antioxidants that could be beneficial in moderate consumption, which is why I am trying to transition over to coffee. As for the question you pose regarding the Universities role in providing these beverages, I agree that the decision is ultimately up to the consumer. However, I still feel like the University should give some long-term nutrition facts about consuming energy drinks, just so students can weigh their options. I truly appreciated this post because it helped me broaden my scope on what moderate consumption of energy drinks looks like compared to coffee, and I can say I would much rather be a moderate coffee drinker than redbull drinker.
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