Energy drinks e lavoro: proposta di un protocollo di indagine e risultati preliminari

Energy drinks are soft beverages – containing a large amount of caffeine and additional ingredients – whose consumption has rapidly spread in the population, particularly in the younger people. Excessive consumption may induce euphoria, anxiety, irritability and insomnia; these reactions may be enhanced by mixing energy drinks and alcohol. The most common systemic effects are hypertension and gastrointestinal disorders. In an occupational context, night workers may be a target population for the consumption of energy drinks. In this preliminary study we investigated a group of workers in a glass industry. We used an appropriate questionnaire of the Italian Association of Sleep Medicine (AIMS), with our additions, as investigative tool. Our research showed an higher consumption of energy drinks in the night workers than in the daily ones. In strong habitual consumers of caffeine, we found a major prevalence of cardiovascular diseases as well as gastrointestinal diseases. We also found that strong habitual consumers of alcoholic beverages often consumed high doses of caffeine also. Our experience suggests that the use of energy drinks among workers, although underestimated at present days, should be considered by occupational physicians and by all the actors in the system of health prevention and safety in the workplaces.