Caffeine might not be to blame. So what ingredients may be affecting it?
The energy drinks can give a big boost when he feels tired. However, a new study by the American Heart Association of the United States suggests that this boost could be coming at the cost of your heart’s electrical system and blood pressure (and the abundance of caffeine in drinks has nothing to do with the problem).
The researchers divided 18 young participants into two groups. The first received 32 ounces of an energy drink that contained 108 grams (g) of sugar, 320 milligrams (mg) of caffeine, and various other compounds. The second had a control drink with the same amount of caffeine, as well as lemon juice and cherry syrup.
Six days later – after that single energy drink was believed to have been completely removed from the system – the groups switched drinks. Participants’ blood pressure and cardiac electrical activity were measured five times in the 24 hours following consumption of the beverages.
The researchers found that those in the energy drink group had a faster QT interval, which is the time it takes for the heart’s ventricles to generate a heartbeat. When these intervals are too long or too short, it can cause the heart to beat abnormally.
In terms of blood pressure, both groups had similar increases in systolic pressure, but it took longer for energy drinkers to return to their original readings.
The researchers concluded that this means that other ingredients in energy drinks, other than caffeine, maybe working, but will require further evaluation to figure out what’s causing the negative effects.
That could be a challenge, as each energy drink brand claims they have a proprietary blend of ingredients. Two commons include guarana, a form of Brazilian cocoa that also contains caffeine, as well as an amino acid, taurine. An Australian study in 2012 highlighted concerns about mixing these ingredients, especially when mixed with alcohol or other stimulants.
Another obstacle is that the most recent study has limitations, especially in terms of sample size and duration. Having so few participants makes the results less conclusive, and it is not possible from this study to understand the long-term effects on the heart of consuming energy drinks. Additionally, the study was conducted in healthy young adults. It is not known what the effect of these drinks may be on someone who already has heart problems.
More research will need to be done to confirm the results. But, for now, the researchers suggest that people with high blood pressure or underlying heart conditions are especially cautious when consuming energy drinks.