A CAN OF BULL?
Do energy drinks really provide
a source of energy?
“A Can of Bull?”
“Some Popular Energy Drinks”
Student Question #1

Which statement best describes your use
of energy drinks?
A. I have NEVER tried an energy drink.
B. I drink an energy drink OCCASSIONALLY.
C. I drink an energy drink whenever I need a “BOOST”
of energy.
D. I drink an energy drink almost DAILY.
Student Question #2

I drink energy drinks because:
A.
B.
C.
D.
They do give me an energy boost.
They taste good.
They give me an energy boost and they taste good.
I don’t drink energy drinks.
Student Question #3

The average cost of a canned energy
drink is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
$1
$2
$3
$4
THE CASE – in summary
Rhonda, a writer for “Runner’s World” magazine, was
asked by her boss, Charley, to research the use and
effectiveness of some popular energy drinks.


As an team of students, you will help Rhonda by
investigating the ingredients in these energy drinks.
You will report your findings to the class.
DO THE MARKETING CLAIMS MATCH
THE SCIENTIFIC FACTS?
Energy?
Before you begin…
You must first understand what is meant when we say
something gives us “energy”.
What is “BIOLOGICAL ENERGY”?
Student Question #4

Food energy is the amount of stored chemical
energy in food that is available after digestion
and metabolism. The most common value for
expressing the amount of energy in food is:
A.
B.
C.
D.
Calvins
Joules
Ounces
Calories
How is food used for energy?



We eat high energy organic molecules such as:
carbohydrates, lipids (fats), proteins, &
nucleic acids.
These molecules are broken down through
digestion/ metabolic processes.
Energy obtained from food must be stored in
form of ATP.
What is ATP?



Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is the primary
energy molecule.
ATP provides the chemical energy that powers
most cell work.
Modified nucleotide:
Adenine + ribose + Pi  AMP
AMP + Pi  ADP
ADP + Pi  ATP
How does ATP store energy?

Lots of stored energy in each P bond.

Bonding of each Pi group is unstable.

Instability of P bonds makes ATP excellent
energy donor.
ATP  ADP
releases energy
∆G = -7.3 kcal/mole
How does people store energy?



ATP is too reactive
(transfers Pi too
easily)
respiration
7.3 kcal/mole
Short-term energy
storage only
Carbohydrates & A working muscle recycles over
fats are long-term 10 million ATPs per second
energy storage
Metabolism

Glucose is a key to metabolism.
•

Cells use glucose to build fats, carbohydrates, and other
compounds; Cells recover glucose by breaking down these
molecules.
Metabolism: cells break down (or build up)
glucose and produce ATP.
Glucose


Glucose is a carbohydrate molecule.
It is a monosaccharide that is oxidized through
cellular respiration or fermentation to produce
ATP.

In aerobic (O2 present) conditions: Respiration

In anaerobic (no O2) conditions: Fermentation
Cell Respiration:
Overall equation:
C6H12O6 + 6O2
6 CO2 + 6H2O + e- + 36-38 ATP’s
3 Stages:
•Glycolysis
•Kreb’s Cycle (aka CAC)
•Electron Transport Chain
Aerobic vs. Anaerobic:
Comparison of glucose breakdown
Fat, carbohydrate, and protein can be used to
produce ATP aerobically.
Anerobic: GLYCOLYSIS

First step in glucose oxidation.

Series of 10 chemical reactions (in cytoplasm).

Glucose  2 pyruvates

NAD+ (an e- carrier) is reduced to NADH
End of glycolysis:
2 ATP, 2 NADH, 2 pyruvates
Don’t try to memorize this slide!
Take aways:
•Glucose is broken
down through a series
of enzymatic reactions
yielding: 2 pyruvates,
2 ATPs, & 2 NADH.
•Pyruvate feeds into
the Kreb’s Cycle.
•NAD+ is a co-enzyme.
Aerobic: KREB’S CYCLE





Occurs in the mitochondria.
In the presence of O2, the pyruvate from
glycolysis is oxidized to 3 CO2.
6 NAD+ molecules are reduced to 6 NADH
2 FAD+ (another e- carrier) are reduced to
2 FADH2.
2 more ATP’s formed.
Don’t try to memorize this slide!
Take aways:
•Pyruvate enters Kreb’s
Cycle.
•Yields: 6NADH, 2
FADH2, 4CO2, and 2
ATP.
•NAD, FAD, Co-Enzyme
A involved.
Aerobic:
ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN (ETC)




Most ATP is produced in the ETC.
High energy released by oxidizing NADH & FADH2.
Electrons are passed down ETC while protons are
pumped across the inner mitochondria membrane.
This proton gradient has high potential energy.
Don’t try to memorize this slide!
Take aways:
•Proton gradient drives production of ATP.
•34 more ATP made.
•Co-Enzyme Q involved.
Some Co-Enzymes in Energy Metabolism
Your Task, Part 1:
Now that you know what ATP is & how it’s produced:
Work as a group to determine the following:

1.
2.
3.
4.
What is the nature (sugar, a.a., vitamin, stimulant,
etc) of each ingredient in your energy drink?
What is the physiological role of each in the body?
Which ingredients provide energy?
Which ingredients contribute to body repair?
Part 1, continued:

As a group, fill in table on page 7.

Also, answer the questions on pages 4 & 8.
Part 2 – Qualitative Chemical Analysis:

As a group, you will test the energy drinks for:
 Amino
Acids
 Proteins
 Carbohydrates
 Lipids
 Sodium Chloride

You will also test some comparative drinks (e.g.
chocolate milk, soda, vitamin water, etc.)
Part 2 –Chemical Analysis, continued:




Follow procedure as outlined in your handout. READ
all instructions carefully.
Fill-in tables & answer questions as you work.
Wear gloves & goggles for these tests – some
chemicals are toxic. Avoid skin contact.
Properly dispose of all chemical waste.
Fun Facts About Caffeine!
Fun Facts About Caffeine!

Used by Native Americans via teas and chocolate

First isolated in 1819

90% of adults will have a caffeinated beverage
daily
 Americans
= highest at 280 mg/day
Caffeine: Delicious or Deadly???

Toxic at high dosages
 http://www.energyfiend.com/death-by-caffeine

New Dangers: Four Lokos
 Alcohol
& caffeine
 Mixing a stimulant and a depressant
 Nicknamed “Blackout in a Can”
 Following massive hospitalization of college students =
Banned from states
 Forced to change recipe
CLASS DISCUSSION:
Let’s talk about each group’s results.
You will be evaluated based on the thoroughness of your
groups’ research & your individual participation.

How do the energy drinks compare?

Is caffeine a source of energy?

What’s the difference between an energy source
and a stimulant?
Final Student Question #5

Should you simply buy a soft drink rather
than one of these energy drinks when you
need an energy boost?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Still undecided