A recent in vitro study shows that adding calcium to energy drinks can reduce enamel erosion, addressing rising dental health concerns in North America.
In Canada alone, the energy drinks market is projected to reach approximately US$4.4 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3 per cent starting in 2024.
How did researchers design the energy drink study?
Researchers at the State University of Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, led by Erik Jácome, tested whether modifying energy drinks with calcium-based formulations could reduce their erosive effects on dental enamel.
Key takeaway:
“The addition of calcium formulations to the energy drink effectively reduced its erosive potential at all concentrations, with the calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex demonstrating the greatest protective effect,” the study concluded.
Study setup:
- Group 1: Red Bull energy drink modified with three concentrations of each:
- Calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex (0.71 g, 1.43 g, 2.15 g)
- Dicalcium malate (0.83 g, 1.66 g, 2.50 g)
- Calcium citrate malate (1.26 g, 2.53 g, 3.80 g)
- Group 2: Unmodified Red Bull (control group)
Key detail: Dental enamel begins to erode when exposed to liquids with a pH below 5.5, which most energy drinks fall well beneath.
What was the step-by-step methodology?
- Enamel specimens were exposed to the drinks for two minutes.
- The pH of each drink was measured using a pH meter.
- Surface roughness and microhardness were assessed before and after exposure using a rugosimeter and a Vickers microhardness tester.
What were the key findings of the study?
- The calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex increased the drink’s pH in proportion to the concentration added.
- Drinks modified with 2.50 g of dicalcium malate and 2.15 g of the calcium/phosphorus/potassium complex significantly preserved enamel microhardness (p < 0.004) compared to the unmodified version.
- All modified drinks showed less enamel surface microhardness loss than the control group, except for deionized water.
A key takeaway: Adding calcium compounds to energy drinks can reduce their erosive potential on teeth.
What does this mean for energy drink consumers?
Fortifying energy drinks with calcium could be a promising strategy to protect dental enamel, especially for frequent consumers. These findings suggest a potential path toward healthier formulations of popular beverages.
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