Energy drink link to blood pressure

HEALTHY young adults normally unconcerned by blood pressure should be aware that energy drinks could increase their risk of cardiac events, particularly if they are not used to caffeine, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic.

“We know that energy drink consumption is widespread and rising among young people,” says lead author Anna Svatikova, MD, Ph.D, a cardiovascular diseases fellow at the Mayo Clinic.

Svatikova says her team has proved in prior studies that energy drinks augment resting blood pressure, yet this study calls for the caffeine-naïve to pay careful attention.

Study participants informed the research team of their habitual caffeine consumption and those who consumed less than 160mg per day – approximately one cup – were considered caffeine-naïve.

Working with 25 healthy young adults between the ages of 19 and 40, the researchers gave them either a can of a commercially-available energy drink or a can containing a placebo concoction.

They then assessed the participants’ blood pressure and heart rate before consumption and 30 minutes afterwards. All participants who consumed an energy drink underwent a marked elevation in blood pressure compared to those who didn’t, and the rise was more dramatic in caffeine-naïve participants.

In fact, this group saw their blood pressure increase more than double the amount of the group that received placebo concoctions.

“Now we are seeing that for those not used to caffeine, the concern may be even greater,” says Svatikova.

“Consumers should be cautious with energy drinks because they may increase the risk of cardiovascular problems, even among young people.”