[ad_1]
The researchers conducted the largest controlled study to date on the effects of energy drinks on the heart and blood pressure in healthy adults.
Although still a relatively modest study, the new research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association is still the largest controlled study on the effect of energy drinks on the heart.
And we'll just get right to the point here with what the researchers have found:
Drinking an energy drink in a short period of time can increase blood pressure and the risk of electrical disturbances of the heart, which affect the heart rate.
Given that about 30% of American teens aged 12 to 17 regularly consume energy drinks – this has been badociated with an increase in the number of emergency room visits and the number of deaths (! ) – this seems to be a pretty relevant news.
The study included 34 healthy participants aged 18 to 40 years old. They either drank 32 ounces of one of two energy drinks containing commercial caffeine or a placebo. They drank the drinks at the same rate for an hour.
Energy drinks contained between 304 and 320 milligrams of caffeine for 32 fluid ounces. For reference, less than 400 milligrams of caffeine should not induce any electrocardiographic changes – indicating that other ingredients, or a combination thereof, are involved. Taurine, glucuronolactone, and the vitamins of Group B were also featured in the energy drinks of the study.
The electrocardiograms measured the electrical activity of the participants' heart and also took the blood pressure at first, then every 30 minutes for four hours after the drinks were consumed.
"Among the participants who consumed one or the other type of energy drink, the researchers found that the QT interval was 6 milliseconds or 7.7 milliseconds higher than 4 hours compared to drinkers with a placebo, "notes the American Heart Association. "The QT interval is a measure of the time it takes for the ventricles of the heart (lower chambers) to prepare to generate a new beat. If this interval is too short or too long, the heart may beat abnormally, the resulting arrhythmia can be life-threatening. "
They also found a statistically significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 4 to 5 mm Hg in energy drinkers.
"We found an badociation between energy drink consumption and changes in QT interval and caffeine-related blood pressure clinical trial," said lead author Sachin A. Shah, Pharm .D., Professor of Pharmaceutical Practice at the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Stockton, California.
The authors note that these results do not take into account the fact that energy drinks are often consumed in combination with alcohol and / or other substances.
"Energy drinks are easily accessible and are commonly consumed by a large number of teens and young adults, including students.The knowledge of the consequences of these drinks on the heart are extremely important," said Kate O & # Dell, Pharm.D. Professor of Pharmacy and Director of Experimental Programs at the Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
For more information, see the full study here: Impact of high-volume energy drink consumption on electrocardiographic and blood pressure parameters: A randomized trial.
The researchers conducted the largest controlled study to date on the effects of energy drinks on the heart and blood pressure in healthy adults.
[ad_2]Source link
