Does '5-hour Energy' really work?

The commercial goes: "Get home from one job, start my second job and I'm running on empty. So I turn to 5-hour Energy."

The ads for 5-hour Energy target busy parents and working adults, as well as young people on YouTube and Facebook.

You see the small shot bottles at checkout counters all over the Tri-State. The company says people drink it more than seven million times a week.

The makers of 5-hour Energy claim you'll "feel it in minutes" and it "lasts for hours."

But does it work?

Our partners at Consumer Reports Magazine wanted to know: Can 5-hour Energy really kick your afternoon slump?

“The company showed us a summary of a study it conducted that supports its claims of increasing attention and alertness. But the study hasn't been published, and the company wouldn't let us keep a copy," said Jamie Hirsh of Consumer Reports.

5-hour Energy contains B vitamins and 1,870 milligrams of what it calls an "energy blend" - a long list of ingredients including caffeine.  Consumer Reports says based on the caffeine content, 5 Hour Energy will give you a shot of energy, just like a cup of coffee.

But Hirsh says, "While caffeine is a known stimulant, we found little if any published scientific research showing that the other ingredients in the "energy blend" provide such a boost."

As for the caffeine, the company won't disclose exactly how much but says it's comparable to a cup of "the leading premium coffee."

While the couple in the ad carry around a six-pack of 5-hour energy, the label cautions "do not exceed two bottles daily, consumed several hours apart."

A cheaper alternative?

And it goes for a hefty price of about $3 a shot. Hirsh says, "The bottom line is 5-hour Energy will probably chase away grogginess, but so will a cup of coffee and it costs a lot less."

If you do want to try 5-hour energy, be aware it isn't for everyone. The label cautions that women who are pregnant or nursing should not try it, nor should children under 12.

And if you are on a budget, a cup of coffee from a Cincinnati area Speedway is a lot cheaper, so you don't waste your money.

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