The Prime drink, namely the caffeinated version of the energy drink, was recently banned first in Slovenia, and then in Croatia.
This refreshing drink, as reported by the media from these two countries, is prohibited due to illegal substances in its composition, Telegraph reports.
There are two drinks, "Prime Energy" and "Prime Hydration" - and children usually consume the latter drink, which is claimed through advertising messages to be rehydrating.
And while Prime Energy is said to contain high levels of caffeine, Prime Hydration, on the other hand, is full of artificial sweeteners.
We emphasize that not all drinks are banned and Slovenia and Croatia have banned the caffeinated version of Prime energy drinks because of the ingredient L-theanine, which is not allowed in soft drinks.
But what is L-theanine?
Theanine is an amino acid found in tea and some mushrooms.
It comes in two forms: L-theanine and D-theanine.
L-theanine is the most common form, he writes WebMD, the Telegraph reports.
As further stated, Theanine is similar to glutamate, a naturally occurring amino acid.
Glutamate helps transmit nerve impulses in the brain and Theanine sometimes acts like glutamate in the body.
But other times it seems to block the effects of glutamate.
Theanine can also affect the brain chemicals GABA, dopamine and serotonin.
As stated further, people use L-theanine to improve mental function.
It is also used for anxiety, mental impairment, stress and other issues, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these claims.
However, it is important not to confuse theanine with another amino acid called threonine. These are not the same.
Possible negative effects of the combination of L-theanine and caffeine
Side effects from the consumption of L-theanine have not been reported, consumption of large amounts of green tea due to the additional caffeine content can lead to nausea, stomach upset and nervousness.
L-theanine in combination with high levels of caffeine, such as those contained in Prime energy drinks, can increase the effect of caffeine, which can lead to increased jitteriness, insomnia and other caffeine-related side effects, according to Index.hr.
It is for this reason that energy drinks containing this combination are best consumed in moderation, bearing in mind all possible risks.
It should also be noted that along with caffeine and L-theanine, energy drinks often contain high levels of sugar, which can be harmful to health if consumed in large quantities. /Telegrafi/
