Nutritional Knowledge and Nutritional Status of Energy Drink Consumers in Medical Students of Benghazi University
Safia S. Elramli *
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Amal Alshukri
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Hana Elbouush
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Mussa Gebreil
Department of Medicine, Benghazi University, Libya.
Sars Almagirby
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Aya Altashani
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Hanan Mansour
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
Asma Alfergani
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Public Health, Benghazi University, Libya.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Excessive consumption of energy drinks by young adults and athletes raises health risks like cardiovascular problems, nervous system disorders, and addiction, and because of these concerns the study targeted young adults among college students in Libya, where there has been no research regarding energy drink consumption patterns among them.
Objective: This study aimed to analyze energy drink consumption patterns among college students, their prevalence and frequency, and evaluate their nutritional status and knowledge.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 200 medical students aged 20-31 in Benghazi, Libya, to assess their nutritional status. The study involved questionnaire which include anthropometric measurements, clinical information, and dietary habits. The study also measured energy drink frequency and use nine nutrition-related questions adapted from a standard nutrition knowledge to assess nutrition knowledge of participants. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-Square test and approved by the university's ethics committee.
Results: Data shows the consumption of energy drinks is relatively high amongst student’s participants of Benghazi University, 60% were consumers, and less than half of the participants (40%) were non-consumers. The consumption of energy drinks among male group more than female group. The result demonstrated that the majority of consumed energy drinks were medical students, however, the relation between energy drinks uses and different colleges participants appeared to be un significant, however, the association between energy drink intake and gender was significant. Regarding BMI most of students were uses of energy drinks had normal BMI, the results showed the correlation between consumption of energy drinks and participant’s BMI was indicated unsignificant.
Conclusion: The study reveals high energy drink consumption among Benghazi University students, with 60% being consumers and 40% being non-consumers. The majority are male, with a higher consumption among medical students. The relationship between energy drink use and college was unsignificant, and the correlation between energy drink consumption and BMI was unsignificant.
Keywords: Energy drink, side effect of energy drink, nutritional status, energy drink consumption, nutrition knowledge, college students