The Effect of Energy Drink Ingredients on Cardiovascular Function in Men and Women 18-39 Years Old

Status unconfirmed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cardiac Arrhythmia, Blood Pressure

In brief

1. Statement of the research question: Does the caffeine in energy drinks interact with other ingredients to affect cardiovascular function in healthy male and female adults after exercise? 2. Purpose and significance of the study: Energy drinks are beverages promoted to enhance alertness along with athletic and cognitive performance. The most common ingredients found in energy drinks include water, sugar, caffeine, taurine, and B-vitamins, with variable inclusion of other ingredients, such as carnitine, glucuronolactone, inositol, guarana, ginkgo biloba leaf extract, thistle extract, and ginseng root extract. Since the mid-1990s, the consumption of energy drinks has grown dramatically, with worldwide sales in 2017 exceeding $49 billion. As the sale of energy drinks has grown, so has the number of adverse event case reports for patients who consumed energy drinks. Reported symptoms included cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, and cardiac arrest. A few small clinical studies have found that energy drinks can increase systolic and diastolic blood pressure and change electrical activity in the heart as measured by an electrocardiogram (ECG). The intent of the proposed study is to determine whether caffeine or the combination of caffeine with taurine and L-carnitine can alter cardiovascular function. Hypothesis: The effects of the ingredients of energy drinks on the heart are mediated in part by interactions between caffeine, taurine and carnitine. The amount of each ingredient in the study was based upon the amount commonly contained in two cans of energy drinks currently on the market.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04149717

Run by

Duquesne University

People needed

35

Starts

2020-01-01

Expected to finish

2023-03-01

Last updated by the study team

2021-03-23

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 39. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• No preexisting medical conditions (including pregnancy)
• Subjects must be capable of exercising on a treadmill (Vigorous activity: more than 7 kcal/min; https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/pdf/PA_Intensity_table_2_1.pdf)
• BMI within normal range (18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2)
• Average daily caffeine intake between 1 and 5 caffeinated beverages

You may not qualify if…

• Age below 18 or greater than 39 years
• Unable to provide legal consent to participate in the study
• Preexisting medical conditions including but not limited to: pregnancy, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disorders, psychiatric or neurological disorders, musculo-skeletal disorders, immune disorders, respiratory disorders, dermatological disorders, infections, blindness, hearing disabilities
• BMI less than 18.5 or greater than 24.9 kg/m25.
• Current or future students of Drs. Johnson and/or Montepara
• Incarceration in local, state or federal justice systems

Where it is running

• Duquesne University — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.