The Acute Effect of and Energy Drink vs. Water Consumption on MAP, HR, and Energy Metabolism

Energy drink consumption has gained a lot in popularity and represents one of the most rapidly growing segments of the beverage industry. While regularly discussed in media outlets etc. the cardiovascular effects are not well described or well known. For example, the impacts on various cardiovascular parameters range from improved, decreased, to not impacted at all depending on the source. This can be due to a number of reasons including, study protocol design, study population tested, energy drink product used, volume consumed, etc. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the impact of acute consumption of a standard commercially available can of energy drink beverage on the following parameters.

• Arterial blood pressure
• Heart rate
• Energy metabolism (oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production

It is hypothesized that consumption of a 12 oz energy drink will result in modest elevations in arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and energy metabolism relative to when consuming of an equal volume of water.

Inclusion criteria

• Between ages 18-30
• Must be free of reported cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic diseases.
• Must be caffeine naïve
• Must be fasted

Exclusion criteria

• Food allergies
• pregnant women
• Breast feeding women
• Individuals with cardiac, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, and/or neurological disorders
• taking any prescription vasoactive medications
• allergies to spandex/lycra