Study: 5-Hour Energy No Better Than Caffeine
LiveScience has the “buzz” on a recent study that compared 5-Hour Energy shots to plain ol’ caffeine with respect to brain activity during an attention-requiring task. No difference between the two was found.
“Before the task, participants consumed 8 ounces of either water, water with caffeine, or water containing the energy drink 5-Hour Energy. The caffeinated drinks were adjusted so that they had the same amount of caffeine per pound of participants’ body weight, and all drinks were colored blue.
During the task, participants who drank the caffeinated drinks had faster brain responses, compared with those who drank plain water. But there was no difference in brain activity between those who consumed caffeinated water, and those who consumed 5-Hour Energy.”
The study is, as yet, unpublished and has not been peer-reviewed (it was presented at a conference), so it should be taken with a grain of salt for now. But the conclusion certainly doesn’t surprise me: I’ve yet to see any good evidence that the other compounds in 5-Hour Energy (like glucuronolactone, amino acids and B-vitamins), in the amounts provided, make a major contribution to its effects. The other compounds look good on the label (and have some use, nutritionally-speaking), but that’s about it.
This also tracks with my experience. A couple of years ago, 5-Hour Energy was my co-pilot on an extended solo road-trip that took me from Newark, NJ, to Boston, MA, to Brighton, ON and then back to Newark. I didn’t buy it because I thought it was better than other sources of caffeine: I bought it because it was more convenient. I didn’t have to juggle a cup of hot coffee behind the wheel (or make pit stops every half-hour). It also beat caffeine pills/caps, since I could “meter” the dose (I drank it small sips over a couple of hours, vs. downing it all at once).
So 5-Hour Energy has its uses, IMHO, but from an sheer energy/alertness perspective, I certainly didn’t notice a difference. Apparently the study subjects didn’t, either.
June 8, 2013
I’ve never tried 5 hour energy,but a friend of mine did and said other than the caffeine buzz he never felt anything. I would say your results are the same.
It does look like the other ingredients are under dosed to do any good.