Sports Drinks Versus Teeth — Who Will Lose Out?

A recent survey of teenagers in South Wales has confirmed that sports drinks are being consumed by adolescents and this could lead to increased levels of obesity and tooth decay. The drinks are designed to provide hydration and energy during and after physical activity. But the evidence from the survey suggests sports drinks are consumed by teenagers in social and other non-sporting activities.

Anatomy of a drink

There are several different types of sports drinks — but all contain carbohydrates to help provide a quick source of energy whilst you are training or exercising.

Three of the main types of sports drinks are:

• Isotonic: similar concentrations of sugar and salt to our bodies. Isotonic drinks quickly replace lost fluids and provide a source of energy.
• Hypertonic: have higher concentrations of sugar and salt than found in our bodies. These drinks are better at providing energy post-exercise and helping to top up muscle glycogen stores.
• Hypotonic: with a lower salt and sugar concentration than the body, these drinks are good at replacing lost fluids in situations where extra carbohydrates are not necessary.

The salt, or mineral, content of the drinks is important in helping our bodies rehydrate and preventing fatigue in longer activities. As we exercise, the sweat carries away important minerals which the drinks help to replace.

A ready source of carbohydrate is sugar, and sports drinks usually have a high sugar content to provide the instant carbs needed during exercise. The analysis of sugars in drinks is discussed in this article, Direct Mono- and Disaccharide Determinations in Foods and Beverages in Chromatography Today.

Dentists are concerned

And it is the sugar that is causing concern to the doctors and researchers behind the report published in the British Dental Journal. The survey was designed to cover the consumption of sports drinks, where the drinks were bought and why the children chose to drink a sports drink. The schools were chosen to represent as wide a socioeconomic background as possible.

The team surveyed one hundred and sixty youngsters aged 12 – 14 at schools in South Wales. They report that almost 90% of the youngsters had consumed a sports drink with close to 50% drinking sports drinks twice a week with Lucozade Sport being the most popular drink. Many of the youngsters were unaware of the sugar content of the drinks. The teenagers main reason for drinking a sports drink was the ‘nice taste’, and the report finds that children were purchasing the drinks at local shops.

Russ Ladwa of the British Dental Association has stated that:

“The rise of sports drinks as just another soft drink option among children is a real cause for concern, and both parents and government must take note. They are laden with acids and sugars, and could be behind the decay problems we’re now seeing among top footballers.”

The survey’s findings can be used to inform health professionals and hopefully help parents to educate their children.