Energy drinks such as Rockstar can increase heart disease risk: study

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Just a single can or bottle of a 16-ounce energy drink could increase the risk of heart disease, even in young and healthy adults, according to a recent study published in the journal JAMA on Nov. 8 and was also presented at the 2015 American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions meeting, held in Orlando, Florida.

These energy drinks, mostly consumed for their energy-boosting and mental alertness benefits, could cause a spike in the blood pressure and an increase in the stress hormones in just thirty minutes, and in turn, lead to a higher cardiovascular health risk, the research team from Mayo Clinic found out.

The research study involved 25 healthy young adults with no known cardiovascular risk factors. Each one of them was asked to drink one 16-ounce can of Rockstar within five minutes sometime during the day, the Los Angeles Times reported. They were also asked to drink another beverage on a different day but, this time, a placebo which looks and tastes just like Rockstar but without the usual energy drink component like caffeine, taurine and other stimulants.

The volunteer participants, 14 men and 11 women, have no idea which of the two drinks they were taking. They were also asked beforehand not to drink alcoholic or caffeinated beverages 24 hours before each study day. The participants were composed of adults with an average age of 29 years old, with close to a normal body mass index, not under any medication and with no diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

The researchers measured their blood pressure and blood levels of norepinephrine before drinking and 30 minutes after. Norepinephrine is a "fight or flight" chemical that increases blood pressure and the heart's ability to contract, according to a Heart,org blog.

The data showed that there is an increase in the blood pressure of those who took the energy drink. Their systolic blood pressure rose by an average of about 6 percent, from 108.4 millimeters of mercury to 115 mmHg, while their diastolic blood pressure rose by an average of close to 7 percent, from 64.3 mmHg to 68.5 mmHg. Those who drink the placebo, on the other hand, had a systolic blood pressure increase of just 3 percent, while the diastolic blood pressure was flat.

And what is even worse, the norepinephrine levels increased by almost 74 percent after the energy drink consumption, as compared to 30 percent after the placebo drink.

These findings led the research team to suggest that these blood pressure and norepinephrine level increase could predispose the healthy adults to increased heart risks.