Energy Drink Effects on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

Overseen By Alison Mancera, BS

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Texas at Arlington

Must not be taking: Vasoactive medications

Disqualifiers: Cardiac, Respiratory, Metabolic, Neurological, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to assess how a popular energy drink affects blood pressure, heart rate, and energy use in the body. Researchers will divide participants into two groups: one will consume the energy drink, while the other will drink water for comparison. Ideal candidates are young adults (ages 18-30) who do not regularly consume caffeine and have no history of heart, lung, or metabolism-related diseases. As an unphased trial, this study provides participants an opportunity to contribute to understanding the broader effects of energy drinks on health.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

If you are taking any prescription medications that affect blood vessels (vasoactive medications), you cannot participate in the trial. Otherwise, the protocol does not specify if you need to stop other medications.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that energy drinks can affect heart rate and blood pressure. Some studies have found that energy drinks can increase heart rate and raise blood pressure shortly after consumption. For example, several studies noted a noticeable rise in blood pressure soon after drinking energy drinks. However, another study found no changes in heart rate or blood pressure with long-term use.

In summary, while energy drinks can cause short-term increases in heart rate and blood pressure, the long-term effects remain unclear. Prospective trial participants should be aware of these possible effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how energy drinks, specifically those containing 200 mg of caffeine, affect blood pressure and heart rate. Unlike typical treatments for blood pressure management, such as ACE inhibitors or beta-blockers, this trial is investigating a commercially available product that many people consume daily. By comparing the effects of an energy drink to water, researchers aim to uncover potential cardiovascular impacts, providing insights into how everyday choices might influence heart health. This could lead to a better understanding of lifestyle factors affecting blood pressure and heart rate.

What evidence suggests that this protocol is effective for affecting blood pressure and heart rate?

This trial will compare the effects of an energy drink with a water control on blood pressure and heart rate. Research has shown that energy drinks can increase heart rate and raise blood pressure. One study found that the systolic blood pressure, or the top number in a reading, was significantly higher after consuming an energy drink. Another study noted an increase in heart rate following consumption. However, some research suggests no long-term changes in heart rate or blood pressure with regular use. Overall, the short-term effects appear to include noticeable increases in heart rate and blood pressure after drinking energy drinks. ^{1 2 3 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Robert M Brothers, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Texas at Arlington

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals who are interested in understanding how energy drinks affect their blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism. Specific eligibility criteria were not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I do not have any heart, lung, or metabolic diseases.

Must be fasted

Must be caffeine naïve

Exclusion Criteria

Breastfeeding women

I have a heart, lung, metabolic, or brain disorder.

Food allergies

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Treatment

Participants consume a 12 oz energy drink or water, and measurements are taken at baseline and at 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes post-consumption

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any delayed effects after beverage consumption

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Energy Drink
• Water Control

Trial Overview The study aims to compare the effects of an energy drink versus water on mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and energy metabolism in participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Energy Drink Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

A commercially available caffeine drink containing 200 mgs of caffeine.

Group II: Water Placebo Group 1 Intervention

This will be 12 fl oz of commercially available water .

Energy Drink is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan, China, Switzerland for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Approved in United States as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Approved in Canada as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Approved in Japan as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Approved in China as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Approved in Switzerland as Energy Drink for:

• General Health and Wellness
• Physical Performance Enhancement
• Mental Alertness

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Texas at Arlington

Lead Sponsor

Trials

48

Recruited

7,300+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study involving 15 recreational runners, consumption of energy drinks led to a significant increase in systolic blood pressure compared to a placebo, indicating potential cardiovascular risks associated with energy drink consumption.

Despite the increase in blood pressure, the energy drinks did not show any performance benefits in terms of oxygen consumption (V[Combining Dot Above]O2) or perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise trials.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Energy Drinks on Economy and Cardiovascular Measures. Peveler, WW., Sanders, GJ., Marczinski, CA., et al.[2018]

Energy drink consumption significantly impaired endothelial function in healthy young adults, with a decrease in peak flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) from 5.1% to 2.8% after consumption, indicating potential cardiovascular risks.

The study also found that systolic and diastolic blood pressures, as well as heart rate, increased shortly after consuming the energy drink, suggesting acute hemodynamic changes that could affect cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Energy Drink Effects on Hemodynamics and Endothelial Function in Young Adults. Higgins, JP., Liras, GN., Liras, IN., et al.[2021]

Acute consumption of caffeinated energy drinks significantly increases systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 4.44 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by 2.73 mm Hg, based on a review of 15 studies involving over 340 participants.

The most significant increase in SBP was observed with energy drinks containing 200 mg or more of caffeine, suggesting a direct link between caffeine content and blood pressure elevation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of Acute Energy Drink Consumption on Blood Pressure Parameters: A Meta-analysis. Shah, SA., Chu, BW., Lacey, CS., et al.[2018]

Oral supplementation with a carbohydrate-electrolyte drink significantly improved endurance performance and heart rate responses in national level male athletes during exercise at 70% VO2max, indicating its efficacy in enhancing sports performance.

The carbohydrate-electrolyte drink also facilitated better lactate removal and improved cardiovascular responses during recovery, suggesting it helps delay fatigue and supports recovery after intense exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supplementary effect of carbohydrate-electrolyte drink on sports performance, lactate removal & cardiovascular response of athletes. Khanna, GL., Manna, I.[2013]

In a study involving 34 healthy young volunteers, consumption of energy drinks significantly prolonged the QTc interval, which is a measure of heart rhythm, indicating potential cardiac risks associated with these beverages.

Energy drinks also led to significant increases in both peripheral and central blood pressure compared to a placebo, suggesting that they can have adverse effects on cardiovascular health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Impact of High Volume Energy Drink Consumption on Electrocardiographic and Blood Pressure Parameters: A Randomized Trial. Shah, SA., Szeto, AH., Farewell, R., et al.[2021]

A study involving 17 healthy children and adolescents found that consuming a single, bodyweight-adjusted energy drink significantly increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure over 24 hours compared to a placebo.

The results suggest that minors, especially those with existing cardiovascular issues, should be discouraged from consuming energy drinks due to the associated rise in blood pressure.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Energy drinks: effects on pediatric 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. A randomized trial. Oberhoffer, FS., Dalla-Pozza, R., Jakob, A., et al.[2023]

Red Bull significantly increases blood pressure and heart rate compared to a placebo, with effects primarily due to its unique hemodynamic pathways rather than just caffeine or sugar content.

While both Red Bull and a comparable amount of caffeine raise blood pressure similarly, Red Bull affects cardiac parameters more, whereas caffeine primarily influences vascular resistance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The blood pressure-elevating effect of Red Bull energy drink is mimicked by caffeine but through different hemodynamic pathways. Miles-Chan, JL., Charrière, N., Grasser, EK., et al.[2018]

Energy drinks can significantly affect cardiovascular health, particularly blood pressure and heart rate, but current research shows inconsistent results due to varying methodologies and individual differences among study participants.

Recent studies suggest that the primary contributors to these cardiovascular effects are caffeine and sugar, while the roles of other ingredients like taurine and glucuronolactone remain uncertain.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Energy Drinks and Their Impact on the Cardiovascular System: Potential Mechanisms. Grasser, EK., Miles-Chan, JL., Charrière, N., et al.[2023]

In a study of 35 healthy young adults, consuming an energy drink containing caffeine and taurine led to significant improvements in both left and right ventricular function, as measured by echocardiographic parameters.

The results indicated a positive inotropic effect, with notable increases in left ventricular twisting (+22%) and right ventricular function parameters like TAPSE (+15%), suggesting that these substances may enhance heart performance acutely.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acute effects of an energy drink on myocardial function assessed by conventional echo-Doppler analysis and by speckle tracking echocardiography on young healthy subjects. Menci, D., Righini, FM., Cameli, M., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4682602/

Energy Drink Consumption: Beneficial and Adverse Health ... Several studies have shown an increase in heart rate and arterial blood pressure after energy drink consumption. These findings were attributed to the ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5714807/

Effects of energy drinks on the cardiovascular system - PMC Results showed that the fifteen minute systolic BP readings were significantly higher in the three energy drink trials (163.87, 166.47, and 165.00) compared to ...

3. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-025-01292-z

Chronic high consumption of energy drinks and ... Regarding blood pressure and heart rate, the present study observed no differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure or heart rate ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05559372?term=PANAX%20GINSENG%20WHOLE&viewType=Table&rank=10

Energy Drink Effects on Performance, Mood, and ... They will then rest for approximately 30 minutes, and will have blood pressure, heart rate and rhythym (EKG), and blood flow evaluated again. After being ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.862041/full

Energy Drinks: Effects on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate ... In this study, the ED consumption of a comparable amount of caffeine led, compared to the placebo intake, to a significant increase in SBP and ...

6. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/jaha.118.011318

Impact of High Volume Energy Drink Consumption on ... In this study, cSBP was significantly elevated after energy drink consumption but the long‐term consequences remain unknown. While blood ...