Aim: Assessment of the influence of single dose of energy drink on blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, cardiac output and vascular compliance in healthy volunteers.
Introduction: An energy drink (ED) is a type of beverage containing stimulant drugs, caffeine, taurine, which is marketed as providing mental and physical stimulation. The popularity of product is increasing especially among teenagers and young adults. Some research suggest that its consumption may have negative effect on cardiovascular system.
Methods: A randomized double-blind placebo controlled cross-over study was conducted on 18 healthy volunteers (7 female, 11 male, mean age 23.67±1.19). Subjects received: 500ml of energy drink containing 160mg of caffeine, 2g of taurine and 50mg of guarana or 500ml of placebo. Participants drank beverages in random order during two different meetings. Drinks did not differ in taste, smell and color. In all participants before and after consumption of a drink following procedures were performed: peripheral and central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) measurement, ECG recording, echocardiography, and pulse wave velocity analysis – in the same sequence and time intervals for every participant.
Results: ED consumption was related to significant increase of SBP in 75min of observation compared to placebo (ΔSBP for ED 5.7±10.2mmHg vs −0.3±7.2mmHg for P, p=0,03). ED caused increase in central SBP (107.8±13.2 vs 115.6±12.1mmHg, p=0,0005), and central DBP (73.9±11.9 vs 78.1±10.2mmHg, p=0,02). However comparison between placebo and ED revealed no significant differences in these parameters. The ECG parameters (HR, PQ, QRS and QTc intervals, axis of P wave, QRS complex, T wave) did not reveal significant differences between groups. There were no differences in echocardiographically determined cardiac output and LVEF.
Conclusion: Single dose ED consumption increases peripheral and central SBP. This effect is probably mediated by vascular wall properties and not by cardiac performance.