"Gamer Fuel" & Supplements
Gaming supplements?
We have all heard of pre-workout drinks and formulas designed for athletes, but "gamer" supplements are a relatively new and niche product.
The concept of a supplement for gamers sounds like somewhat of a gimmick, but in the past few years these types of powders and pre-made drinks have gained massive popularity (and controversy).
So, what are they, why are they so popular, and are they worth trying for gamers and non-gamers alike?
By far the most well known brand of gamer supplement, G FUEL by Gamma Labs has led the gamer supplement market for almost a decade.
Available in over 40 different flavours, G FUEL comes in a powder form (where you simply choose how much powder you want, and add water), and also in ready-to-drink cans. There is also a G FUEL product called Energy Crystals, a soluble crystallized energy tube that you eat, rather than drink. Recently, Gamma Labs have also introduced a "stick pack", which contains individual sachets of G FUEL that can be used to make one serving of the drink.
G FUEL is marketed as an energy drink made specifically (but not exclusively) for gamers. One of the biggest factors in G FUEL's success has been down to Gamma Labs' marketing strategy: advertising their product through pop figures in the gaming industry. If you have ever watched any gaming content creators or live-streamers, there is a good chance you have seen them advertise G FUEL. Gamma Labs cornered the market by having YouTubers advertise their product during the gaming-video boom of the 2010s, and to this day, cult figures in gaming like PewDiePie still work with G FUEL to promote the product.
So, what actually is in the supplement? The four promises of G FUEL are "Energy, Focus, Endurance and Hydration". But do they achieve this?
Ingredients
Below is a quick rundown of the main ingredients of G FUEL supplements, and what they do (full list available here):
Caffeine: Specifically, Caffeine anydrous, a concentrated form of caffeine. A common stimulant that millions drink every day (mainly in coffee and other energy drinks), caffeine decreases fatigue and can boost performance - athletically and intellectually. One serving of standard G FUEL energy contains about 150mg of caffeine; more than a cup of coffee, but far less than some pre-workout supplement powders on the market.
Taurine: Taurine is an amino acid, often added to energy drinks and formulas. Its main source is from meat and dairy, and it is used in the body to regulate digestion and minerals, along with antioxidant function. Studies have also shown that taurine can improve muscle function and endurance, and may improve vision.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C (aka, ascorbic acid) is a vital vitamin for humans; boosting the immune system and protecting brain function are just two of many benefits of Vitamin C supplementation. One serving of G FUEL Energy contains 278% of your RDA of Vitamin C!
Vitamin B12: A vital vitamin, B12 is naturally found in meat and animal products (however, it is also supplemented by those on a vegan diet). B12 helps with red blood cell formation, supports bone health, helps regulate brain neurons and can boost your energy. B12 is commonly added to energy drinks, however, it may only give a noticeable energy boost to those who are deficient in B12.
Niacin: Niacin (Vitamin B3) is a commonly used supplement like B12. It can boost brain function, regulate cholesterol levels, and potentially help prevent heart disease.
Zero Sugar: G FUEL products (and, most other "gaming supplements") contain zero sugar - unlike many standard energy drinks on the market. This is welcome news for those who are concerned about the negatives of sugar consumption!
Controversy
Looking at the list of ingredients above, all seems well - it even contains zero sugar! Once we look past the "gamer fuel" gimmick, G FUEL is very similar to many other supplement drinks and pre-workout/energy formulas on the market.
Fundamentally, it is a vitamin supplement with some energy-boosting chemicals added.
What could be controversial?
In 2018, Gamma Enterprises faced a lawsuit settlement in the state of California. Testing showed that a number of samples taken from G FUEL products contained excessive amounts of lead (a dangerous carcinogen) - requiring G FUEL to have a warning label on its containers for it to continue being sold. G FUEL also was banned from being sold in Norway, due to concerns over the risks of vitamin overdose, especially for children (extremely high vitamin B consumption can cause black-outs and fainting, according to some studies). Gamma Labs also do not disclose the amount of Taurine in G FUEL, which has caused controversy.
Final thoughts
From lead poisoning to being banned in Norway, things might seem grave for Gamma Labs and the gaming supplement injury. However, this is certainly not the first time an energy supplement has caused this kind of controversy.
A few years ago, Craze (a pre-workout designed for weightlifting and bodybuilding) was removed from shelves after amphetamines were found during routine testing of the product. Production soon stopped completely. There are countless controversies surrounding bodybuilding, pre-workout, and energy supplements - and even the rather tame sounding "gamer fuel" industry seems to be no exception.
The truth is, if you are concerned about the safety or contamination risk of products, the safest thing to do is not buy them. The ingredients for many of these supplements can be bought individually, and buying the individual vitamins and products yourself is the only way to be sure that what you are consuming is safe.
However, for those of us who don't want to have dozens of pill and powder containers, products like G FUEL can be beneficial for energy boosting and even overall health - providing they are not overused. As we saw in the ingredients listed above, there doesn't seem to be anything crazy in G FUEL's listed ingredients. However, keep in mind that there will always be a risk of cross contamination when buying pre-made supplement products, due to the nature of the supplement manufacturing industry.
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