Erosive Potential: Laboratory Evaluation of Sports Drinks Available in Nigerian Market

This in vitro study sought to evaluate nine different sport and energy drinks (B Star Energy drink, London Best Energy Drink, Hippo Energy drink, Lucozade Boost Energy fast, Hype Energy, Vita 500 Energy drink, Lucozade Sport, Power horse Energy drink and Red Bull Energy drink) in terms of initial pH and titratable acidity. Initial pH was measured in triplicate for the nine beverages. The titratable acidity of each beverage was assessed by measuring the volume of 0.10 M sodium hydroxide necessary for titration to pH level of 7.0. All the evaluated drinks were acidic with pHs that ranged from 2.7 to 3.4. London best Energy drink and Lucozade Boost Energy Fast produced the lowest mean pH of 2.7 while Lucozade Sport produced the highest pH. The mean titratable acidity ranges from 4.1 to 13.8 mls. Hype Energy produced the highest acidity (indicating the strongest potential for erosion of enamel), followed by Hippo Energy drink. The least was Lucozade Boost Energy fast. All the popular sports and energy drinks in the Nigerian market are acidic with pHs well below the critical pH (5.5) of enamel demineralization. Erosive cavities may develop in addicts.