Brief observationDetrimental Effects of Energy Drink Consumption on Platelet and Endothelial Function
Section snippets
Study Population
Fifty healthy subjects (34 male, aged 22 years ± 2 years) participated in this study. Subjects were included if they consumed energy drinks infrequently (<1 drink per month) and had no documented coronary artery disease and no risk factors for coronary artery disease.
All subjects gave written and informed consent to the study protocol that was approved by the Research of Ethics Committee of the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.
Study Protocol
All subjects fasted overnight and abstained from any form
Subject Characteristic
In a group of young healthy subjects, we examined the effect of energy drink consumption (n = 30) or control drink (n = 20) on platelet aggregation and endothelial function. Baseline characteristics for the entire cohort were: heart rate: 61 ± 2 beats per minute; mean arterial pressure: 81 ± 2 mm Hg; adenosine diphosphate-induced (1 and 10 μmol/L) platelet aggregation was 25.3 ± 3.0% and 69.0 ± 2.7% light transmittance, respectively; and endothelial function as assessed via changes in peripheral arterial
Discussion
In a cohort of otherwise fit and healthy subjects, the present study demonstrated endothelial dysfunction and platelet hyperaggregability 1 hour after energy drink consumption, with an associated increase in blood pressure.
The energy drink used in this study contains caffeine, taurine (an amino acid), and glucuronolactone (a glucose metabolite). Additional substances incorporated in the drink include vitamins (B2, -5, -6, -12) along with sweeteners and thickeners. It remains uncertain which of
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that 1 hour after consumption of an energy drink, there are objective cardiovascular changes characterized by increase in blood pressure, increase in platelet aggregation, and impairment of endothelial function. Further research to determine the clinical implications of these findings is warranted.
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Funding: Dr. Sanders is supported by the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
Conflict of Interest: No author has a conflict of interest with this work.
Authorship: All authors have had access to the data and a role in the manuscript.