Energy Drink Consumption Linked to Increased Blood Pressure

Can your favorite drink be bad for your health? New research suggests that you should be careful about the caffeine content of your drinks, particularly if you consume energy drinks often. In a study published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers observed that people who consumed energy drinks had higher blood pressure and heart rate than those who drank caffeine but not in an energy drink form. Read on to learn more about the specifics of this study and how you can incorporate healthy caffeine into your diet as well as get some tips on improving your overall health and wellness.

The results found that there was no difference in pulse

both groups had an average resting heart rate of about 75 beats per minute. However, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure were higher in participants who consumed energy drinks. Systolic blood pressure was 5 points higher than the control group at 129 mm Hg and 10 points higher for diastolic blood pressure at 80 mm Hg.

The placebo group had higher systolic blood pressure (SBP) than the decaffeinated coffee group as well as significantly higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP) compared with both active treatment groups

SBP, P = 0.001; DBP, P = 0.0005. The placebo group also had higher heart rates compared with both active treatment groups: SBP, P = 0.03; DBP, P = 0.02. No significant differences were found between decaffeinated coffee and caffeine-containing coffee for any of these parameters. In addition, no significant differences were found between either of these two treatments and water for any of these parameters (data not shown).

The researchers conclude that consuming an energy drink in place of a caffeinated beverage may be associated with an increase in blood pressure and heart rate. More research is needed to confirm these findings as well as determine whether energy drinks have adverse effects on health over time or if there are certain subgroups that may be more susceptible to such adverse effects.

In a study published in 2013 by scientists at Imperial College London, researchers looked at how energy drinks affect blood pressure and heart rate when consumed along with caffeinated coffee or decaffeinated coffee.

Participants were randomized into 4 groups

energy drink, caffeinated beverage, decaffeinated beverage and placebo beverage. Both energy drinks and caffeinated beverages were consumed at a rate of 0.75ml/kg body weight. Blood pressure was measured every 15 minutes for one hour before consumption, immediately after consumption and every 30 minutes for two hours after consumption. Heart rate was also measured every 15 minutes for one hour before consumption, immediately after consumption and every 30 minutes for two hours after consumption. Blood pressure was measured using an automated device (OMRON 705CP) while heart rate was measured manually by palpating both carotid arteries with a finger until a pulse could be detected. Blood pressure measurements were taken in triplicate on each arm (right arm: brachial artery; left arm: radial artery). Heart rates were taken in triplicate from each carotid artery by palpation.

Blinding Patients

When researchers compared blood pressure, heart rate and other factors between people who consume energy drinks and those who consume caffeinated liquids, they found that, though both groups exhibited similar overall increases in these measures, an increase in systolic blood pressure (the top number) was more prevalent in those consuming energy drinks. Additionally, people who consumed two or more energy drinks a day were much more likely to exhibit elevated systolic blood pressure levels than those consuming less than one a day.

Systolic blood pressure increased significantly from baseline in all groups compared with placebo

by 5.4 mm Hg for sugar-free Red Bull; by 4.9 mm Hg for sugar-free Rockstar; and by 4.5 mm Hg for a can of regular Red Bull. Diastolic blood pressure increased significantly from baseline in all groups compared with placebo: by 3.7 mm Hg for sugar-free Red Bull; by 3.6 mm Hg for sugar-free Rockstar; and by 2.8 mm Hg for a can of regular Red Bull. Heart rate increased significantly from baseline in all groups compared with placebo: by 3 beats per minute (bpm) for sugar-free Red Bull, bpm for sugar-free Rockstar, and bpm for a can of regular Red Bull (P<0.05). The researchers conclude that energy drink consumption is associated with increases in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate among healthy adults who are not habitual consumers of these products.

Diastolic blood pressure increased significantly in all groups compared with the placebo

1.65 mm Hg in energy drink groups, 0.85 mm Hg in caffeinated beverage groups and 0.35 mm Hg in decaffeinated beverage groups. The observed changes were more pronounced with increasing doses of caffeine consumed daily: an increase of 2.6 mm Hg for those cons least 200 mg per day, 1.0 mm Hg for 100–200 mg and 1.1 mm Hg for less than 100 mg per day (P=0.0003).

Conclusions were drawn despite high variance across participants

The results may be due in part to a high level of variance among participants, according to Roberts. However, a striking trend was identified in regards to blood pressure: Participants who reported consuming energy drinks had higher systolic blood pressure than those who reported drinking caffeinated beverages only. More research is needed before any firm conclusions can be drawn on how these results might affect an individual’s risk for developing heart-related conditions, Roberts said.

There are indications of increased catecholamine release after energy drink consumption

a possible link to increased blood pressure and other cardiovascular effects. – Soh et al (2012) Food and Chemical Toxicology. Volume 50, pages 2875–2882. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2012.07.016 [PubMed] Abstract (Google Scholar)