The researchers claimed that excessive consumption of energy drinks contributes to the cause of allergic diseases. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — Excessive consumption of energy drinks can cause allergies, a study showed Tuesday.
A research team from Hallym University Medical Center conducted a study of 129,809 young South Koreans between the ages of 12 and 18 who participated in the 2015-2016 Youth Health Behavior Survey, finding a correlation between energy drink consumption and allergies.
The research team studied the correlation between energy drinks and asthma, atopy, and allergic rhinitis.
In the case of asthma, young South Koreans drinking energy drinks more than seven times each week had an 11.6 percent chance of getting asthma, which was 1.3 times more likely than those who did not (8.8 percent).
Looking at the correlation based on data from the last 12 months, energy drinkers were 1.65 times more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than non-drinkers.
As for atopic diseases, records over the last 12 months showed that those that consumed energy drinks more than seven times per week had a 9.8 percent chance of getting an atopic disease, which was 1.46 times more likely than those who did not (6.7 percent).
The chance of getting allergic rhinitis was also higher for energy drinkers, who had a 22.6 percent chance of diagnosis, 1.21 times more likely than non-drinkers (18.5 percent).
The researchers claimed that excessive consumption of energy drinks contributes to the cause of allergic diseases.
High fructose syrup, sodium benzoate and other additives in energy drinks may be correlated to allergic diseases, the team claimed.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
