Effects of Psychoactive Chemicals on Commercial Driver Health and Performance: Stimulants, Hypnotics, Nutritional, and Other Supplements (2011) / Chapter Skim
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Pages 39-49
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From page 39... ...
Without usable information and guidance, drivers also might forgo taking dietary supplements that potentially could improve their performance or health. Nutritionists portray how what we eat or consume can help us achieve adequate or even optimal performance levels CHAPTER FIVE SUPPLEMENTS: NUTRITIONAL, HERBAL, ENERGY BOOSTERS, DIETARY, AND HEALTH FOODS
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From page 40... ...
The attempt here is to describe chemical substances that are widely included in commercial products; in particular, highlighting those that contain psychoactive ingredients that in some way might affect the performance or health of commercial drivers who take them. In an attempt to be somewhat comprehensive, this synthesis also provides modest coverage of other ingestible items that do not strictly qualify as nutritional supplements per se (e.g., drinking appropriate amounts of water to sustain proper hydration)
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From page 41... ...
Cognitive performance and subjective mood were assessed pre-dose Category Where Found Use/Effect Comments Herbals Guarana Ginkgo Biloba Health food stores, truck stops, inserted into soft drinks and energy drinks Mild stimulants; have some effect on cognitive and reaction time performance Some studies indicate mild effects akin to those of caffeine. No adverse effects demonstrated Ginseng, Passion Flower, Kava Kava, Valerian, St.
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From page 42... ...
. Guarana is found in some soft drinks, colas, lemonade, energy drinks, supplement powders, and food bars.
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From page 43... ...
Additional nutrient supplements that help with anxiety or stress are proteins such as 5-HTP, and amino acids such as Tryptophan, Tyrosine, and Theanine. Most of these supplement products are commercially available in boutique health food stores, nutrition shops, and in some grocery stores.
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From page 44... ...
Taurine is different from other amino acids in that it is not incorporated into proteins. It plays an important role in osmolarity regulation and in metabolism and it is found in
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From page 45... ...
As a paradox for the drink manufacturers, consumption of large amounts of caffeine may cause a shortage of inositol in the body; thus, heavy coffee drinkers may benefit slightly from taking supplemental inositol. The manufacturers of energy drinks such as Red Bull™ tout the likely combination of energizing effects by placing caffeine along with other ingredients such as taurine (1,000 mg)
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From page 46... ...
(2008) tended to agree, stating that most of the effects of energy drinks on cognitive performance are related primarily to the presence of caffeine.
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Both products identify themselves as "vitamin supplement drinks." The label on the 5-Hour Energy™ bottle, and the company's website, suggest that its unique blend of vitamins provides a boost of energy, and its combination of amino acids provides cognitive enhancements, such as an increased ability to focus and a better mood. The company's advertising says 5-Hour Energy™ is different from other energy drinks because it excludes guarana, contains only as much caffeine as is found in one cup of coffee, and it has "zero sugar, zero net carbohydrates, and only four calories." The lack of sugar and reduced amount of caffeine are said to eliminate the "crash effect," a reduction in energy below baseline that most users of other energy drinks (FEDs)
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Most of these present splashy colors and advertising displays, and offer to increase or enhance performance (whether it be physical or cognitive performance) , alleviate stress, provide more energy, provide power to achieve, and so on.
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From page 49... ...
Controlled laboratory studies could be carried out to examine and report on the efficacy and safety of use of such readily available products by commercial drivers.
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