Shine OnInhalable caffeine in a tube? Health experts have concerns
For those times when drinking a cup of coffee is simply too exhausting, a Harvard scientist has developed a form of caffeine that can be inhaled instead.
The AeroShot is stirring up more than a whiff of controversy, however, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announcing this week that it will investigate the product's safety.
Invented by David Edwards, who previously developed a form of breathable chocolate, each pre-filled lipstick-sized tube contains about 100 mg of calorie-free, lime-flavoured caffeine, which is dispensed in four to six puffs. Canadians can order the Aeroshot online for 2.25 euros apiece, or about $3.
Christine Shaddick, a registered dietitian based in Vancouver, says the 100 mg serving size sounds reasonable given that a standard 250 ml cup of coffee contains about the same amount of caffeine, while a cup of green or black tea contains about 40 to 60 mg.
"It would just be giving you a hit without having to drink a cup of coffee," she says, though she suspects the caffeine from the AeroShot might be make its way into the bloodstream more quickly because it dissolves on the tongue instead of being absorbed lower down in the digestive tract.
Related: Four ways to boost the health benefits of caffeine
Still, New York Senator Charles Schumer is concerned that teens and kids could abuse the product by mixing it with alcohol. "The AeroShot caffeine-inhaler is being marketed as a party enhancer," he said in a statement. "It can facilitate excessive drinking and its effects have never been examined by independent regulators." The American Academy of Pediatrics has also raised concerns about the AeroShot's safety.
Several U.S. teens ended up in the hospital in 2010 after consuming a drink that has both caffeine and alcohol, called Four Loko. The company later cut the caffeine from their product in anticipation of a ruling by the FDA.
Meanwhile, a Canadian study in 2010 reported that students who mixed alcohol and energy drinks consumed more alcohol overall.
"It's not advised to consume alcohol and caffeine at the same time," says Shaddick. "Alcohol is a depressant and caffeine is a stimulant. It's hard on the body to have something stimulating you and also trying to slow your system at the same time."
Shaddick says it's still unclear how much you would need to consumer of each to produce a negative effect.
Related: Tim Hortons' gets super-sized: How much is too much caffeine?
In response to the concerns about the AeroShot, the FDA has agreed to conduct a review of its safety and legality. After this review, the administration could require Breathable Foods, the American company behind the product, to make changes to its composition or marketing strategy, or even remove it from the market entirely.
"We will cooperate fully with the FDA's review," said Breathable Foods CEO Tom Hadfield in a statement, adding that he is confident they produce "a safe, effective product that complies with FDA regulations." The company does not recommend the product for youth under the age of 18 and advises users not to consumer more than three per day.
A spokeswoman for Breathable Foods says the company will bring AeroShot to stores across the U.S. within the next two years, but have no concrete plans for Canadian distribution.
