Energy drinks and their effects on the heart and blood pressure
Energy drinks are significantly stronger compared to other beverages with the same caffeine content. They alter the ECG in certain areas, cause the blood pressure to rise - and this can last up to six hours after consumption. This was discovered by American researchers.
The 18 participants (all considered healthy) aged between 18 and 40 received drinks containing 320 mg of caffeine in both groups. One group received this in the form of energy drinks. This dosage remained below the recommended limit of 400 mg per day for healthy adults.
While the peripherally measured systolic blood pressure of the control group returned to nearly normal after six hours with an increase of only 0.83 mmHg, the systolic blood pressure values of those who consumed an energy drink were still averaged 4.72 mmHg above the baseline. The diastolic values measured peripherally in both groups showed no deviation - nor did the central measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
While the peripherally measured systolic blood pressure of the control group returned to nearly normal after six hours with an increase of only 0.83 mmHg, the systolic blood pressure values of those who consumed an energy drink were still averaged 4.72 mmHg above the baseline. The diastolic values measured peripherally in both groups showed no deviation - nor did the central measurements of systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
It is suspected that other ingredients such as taurine, L-carnitine, and the like contribute to this effect. This will now be further researched, as the study shows that it is not solely the caffeine content that is responsible for the increase in blood pressure.
The Silesian University in Katowice has also studied energy drinks and their effects. The effect of energy drinks with 120 mg of caffeine was compared to energy drinks containing 360 mg of caffeine. The lower dose had little impact on pulse and blood pressure. However, the drink with the high caffeine dose caused a significant increase in blood pressure of 9.0 mmHg systolic and 9.4 mmHg diastolic. The pulse rate increased by five beats per minute, and there were heart rhythm disturbances with episodes of palpitations. The increase in systolic blood pressure occurred just 15 minutes after consuming the drink, which the researchers did not attribute definitively to the drink. The diastolic blood pressure increase occurred after 30 minutes, and the palpitations after 90 minutes, which is clearly considered a result of the drink.
People whose blood pressure values are elevated or borderline, who suffer from heart problems or diabetes, are therefore advised to stay away from energy drinks. Please consider: The increase in blood pressure occurs at a higher level in hypertensives. The aforementioned limit of 400 mg of caffeine per day, considered safe, applies to healthy adults. Children, adolescents, and pre-existing adults can experience health problems even at lower doses. Additionally, the effects of other added substances in energy drinks, which evidently play a significant role, have not yet been sufficiently researched.
By the way: A cup of espresso contains 40 to 60 mg of caffeine.
Sources
- https://www.aerztezeitung.de/Medizin/Energydrinks-koennen-Engelsfluegel-verleihen-65167.html
- https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/jaha.116.004448
- https://journals.viamedica.pl/arterial_hypertension/article/view/35471
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2021.679105/full
- https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/227319
By Sabine Croci.
This article is medically reviewed. Last updated (03/2024).
Information on the website and within the app cannot replace a consultation with a doctor, but can certainly complement it.
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