Additionally, Prime Hydration contains B vitamins, and while those are important nutrients, they don’t add anything to the hydration potential of a beverage, says Bonci. White agrees, explaining “you don’t lose B vitamins in sweat.” These nutrients are very common in the food supply and carry low risk of deficiency for most people, adds White. As for caffeine and children, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that children under the age of 12 years not consume any caffeine and recommend that children ages 12 to 18 years not exceed 100 milligrams of caffeine per day [2] Parenting in ‘caffeine nation’. CentraCare. Accessed 10/12/2023. [3] Caffeine and Children. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Accessed 10/12/2023. .

The Prime energy drink, which was launched by English YouTuber KSI and American YouTuber Logan Paul last year, is set to arrive in the UK soon - and a warning to parents has already been issued.

Is Prime an energy drink?

The Prime drink, which was launched by English YouTuber KSI and American YouTuber Logan Paul last year, has become popular and has been flying off the shelves. There are two products for sale – Prime hydration and Prime energy. While the FDA doesn’t regulate energy drinks, it does note a caffeine limit of 71 milligrams per 12-ounce serving for sodas, according to Harvard Health, which notes many energy drink manufacturers can get around this threshold by classifying their product as a supplement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights potential negative effects of energy drinks, such as impacts on the heart, dehydration, anxiety and sleep disturbances such as insomnia. Heart complications can include irregular heartbeat and heart failure, while anxiety can include feeling nervous and jittery. Dehydration—inadequate water in the body—is a condition that can lead to unclear thinking, mood changes, overheating, constipation and kidney stones.

Although it's not easy to find all the ingredients online, Dr Lee also notes that there are other things to consider when deciding whether to buy your children a Prime drink. She said: "Dipotassium phosphate is an artificial flavour enhancer and preservative which is said to be safe for consumption but can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches and constipation." Prime Hydration is formulated more like a sports drink as it contains electrolytes and vitamins, says Avery Zenker, a Canadian-based registered dietitian at EverFlex Fitness, a personal training program. Prime Energy is more of an energy drink, primarily due to its substantial caffeine content, recognized as a stimulant, she adds. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much?. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed 9/22/2023. Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Mirror: "I would not recommend children drink Prime energy drinks or other energy drinks for children of any age. Children don't need energy drinks anyway – they have plenty of energy!

Dr Lee also notes that there is added zinc, and said: "Most children do not need zinc supplements – it is readily obtained from the diet. This can cause symptoms too, such as vomiting, diarrhoea and headaches." It can also interfere with sleep, which children need plenty of. She added: "Caffeine results in an increased need to pass urine, so will not help at school with more trips to the toilet and could contribute to bed wetting." The energy version of Prime isn't officially sold in major supermarkets in the UK yet, but some smaller corner shops have been selling them. However, from April they are set to be more widely available in the UK, reports The Mirror. Prime Energy contains 200 milligrams of caffeine in its 12-ounce serving cans. The FDA specifies an intake of 400 milligrams of caffeine a day in healthy adults is generally considered safe and not linked to adverse effects such as insomnia, jitters and fast heart rate. Dr Deborah Lee, from Dr Fox Online Pharmacy, told The Mirror: "I would not recommend children drink Prime energy drinks or other energy drinks for children of any age.

Prime is marketed as zero sugar and low calorie, but it's got sucralose, which is an "artificial sweetener which has been shown to alter the gut microbiome and increase levels of systemic inflammation". UFC announces global marketing partnership with Logan Paul and KSI for their Prime Beverage Brand. UFC. Accessed 9/22/2023.For a sports drink, Prime Hydration is high in potassium and suboptimal in its carbohydrate content at 5 grams, adds Kansas City Chiefs’ sports dietitian Leslie Bonci. Optimal carbohydrate content is 4 to 8 grams per 100 milliliters, so Prime Hydration’s 500 milliliters (one serving) should contain 40 to 80 grams of carbohydrate, Bonci explains. Prime Energy drinks include a label indicating that they’re not recommended for individuals under 18 years of age, those with caffeine sensitivity and women who are pregnant or nursing. This practice aligns with the American Beverage Association’s (ABA) labeling guidelines for caffeinated beverages. Prime Hydration Ingredients It encourages them to want sweet drinks, when plain water is the answer and helps them develop a sweet tooth which is not good for the future in terms of a healthy diet and controlling their weight." Artificial sweeteners are calorie-free— however, they aren’t well-studied in children and typically taste sweeter than sugar, promoting a sweet preference, according to Zenker. While artificial sweeteners are generally considered safe, there’s still much research needed, especially regarding their long-term effects, she adds. Prime Energy Ingredients She said: "Dipotassium phosphate is an artificial flavour enhancer and preservative which is said to be safe for consumption but can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headaches and constipation."

Although it's not easy to find all the ingredients online, Dr Lee also notes that there are other things to consider when deciding whether to buy your children a Prime drink.

Is Prime drink fizzy?

Indeed, the marketing of energy drinks in general typically employs strategies aimed at adolescents, notes Harvard Health. Energy drinks are the second most widely consumed dietary supplement among American teenagers and young adults, following multivitamins, according to the National Institutes of Health [1] Energy Drinks. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Accessed 9/22/2023. .