Energy drinks may harm cardiovascular health

05 February 2010

Energy drink consumption may be associated with platelet and endothelial dysfunction, scientists have warned.

Researchers at the University of Adelaide investigated anecdotal evidence of a link between energy drinks, heart attacks and sudden cardiac death.

They recruited 50 healthy volunteers between the ages of 20 and 24 in order to study the effect of energy drink consumption on the blood.

Participants' platelets and endothelial function were analysed at the start of the study, and again one hour after they had drunk a 250ml can of sugar-free energy drink.

The researchers found that energy drink consumption led to a significant increase in platelet aggregation and decreased endothelial function.

Blood pressure in the arteries typically increased after drinking one of the cans, but the participants' heart rates remained unchanged.

Writing in the American Journal of Medicine, the researchers concluded that energy drink consumption "acutely increases platelet aggregation and decreases endothelial function in healthy young adults".

In response, the British Heart Foundation said that care should be taken when consuming energy drinks.

Cardiac nurse Ellen Mason said that while interesting, "we cannot say from the study that this would lead to any heart problems occurring".

"It remains unclear whether it is an individual ingredient in the unnamed energy drink or the combination of ingredients that had an effect on blood chemistry," she noted.

"For now, as we don't know which type of energy drink this was, we would advise young people to be aware that we can't say what a safe limit of energy drinks is, but we would advise not having a high consumption of these drinks."

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