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Cardiac MRI shows energy drinks increase heart contractions
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Healthy patients may experience a short-term increase in systolic left ventricular contractility after consuming an energy drink, according to study results presented at the Radiological Society of North America annual meeting.
Researchers used cardiac MRI to measure the effect of energy drink consumption on heart function in 15 men and three women (mean age, 27 years). All participants were healthy volunteers. Cardiac MRI was performed before and 1 hour after consuming an energy drink containing 400 mg/100 mL taurine and 32 mg/100 mL caffeine.
Compared with levels before consumption of the energy drink, peak strain (–22.33 before consumption vs. –24.15 after consumption; P=.01) and peak systolic strain rate (–1.18 1/s vs. –1.3 1/s; P=.01) were significantly higher after consumption. The researchers noted a nonsignificant increase in peak diastolic strain rate. LV function, heart rate and BP did not differ significantly before and after consumption.
Jonas Dörner
“Until now, we haven’t known exactly what effect these energy drinks have on the function of the heart,” researcher Jonas Dörner, MD, radiology resident at University of Bonn, Germany, said in a press release. “We’ve shown that energy drink consumption has a short-term impact on cardiac contractility. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of long-term energy drink consumption and the effect of such drinks on individuals with heart disease.”
The effect of energy drink consumption combined with alcohol, as well as the mechanisms behind and duration of the observed contractility increase, also require further assessment, he said.
For more information:
Dörner J. SSC02-06. Presented at: Radiological Society of North America 2013 Annual Meeting; Dec. 1-6, 2013; Chicago.
Disclosure: Dörner reports no relevant financial disclosures.