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Energy drinks may increase blood pressure, disturb heart rhythm


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American Heart Association Meeting Report

March 21, 2013  

Study Highlights:

  • Energy drinks may increase blood pressure and disturb the heart’s rhythm.
  • Researchers who analyzed seven previously published studies found an increase of 3.5 points in systolic blood pressure for those consuming energy drinks.
  • Consuming energy drinks may increase the chances of developing an abnormal heart rhythm.


Abstract   #P324 Embargoed until 3 p.m. CT / 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013

NEW ORLEANS — Energy drinks may increase blood pressure  and disturb your heart’s natural rhythm, according to research presented at the American Heart Association’s Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions.

Researchers analyzed data from seven previously published observational and interventional studies to determine how consuming energy drinks might impact heart health.

In the first part of the pooled analysis, the researchers examined the QT interval  of 93 people who had just consumed one to three cans of energy drinks. They found that the QT interval was 10 milliseconds longer for those who had consumed the energy drinks. The QT interval describes a segment of the heart’s rhythm on an electrocardiogram; when prolonged, it can cause serious irregular heartbeats or sudden cardiac death.

“Doctors are generally concerned if patients experience an additional 30 milliseconds in their QT interval from baseline,” said Sachin A. Shah, Pharm.D., lead author and assistant professor at University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.

“QT prolongation is associated with life-threatening arrhythmias. The finding that energy drinks could prolong the QT, in light of the reports of sudden cardiac death, warrants further investigation.” said Ian Riddock, M.D., a co-author and director of preventive cardiology at the David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

Researchers also found that the systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, increased an average of 3.5 points in a pool of 132 participants.

“The correlation between energy drinks and increased systolic blood pressure is convincing and concerning, and more studies are needed to assess the impact on the heart rhythm.” Shah said. “Patients with high blood pressures or long QT syndrome should use caution and judgment before consuming an energy drink"

Since energy drinks also contain caffeine, people who do not normally drink much caffeine might have an exaggerated increase in blood pressure.”

The pooled studies included healthy, young patients 18-45 years old. “People with health concerns or those who are older might have more heart-related side effects from energy drinks”, said Shah.

Co-authors are: Anthony E. Dargush, Pharm.D.; Carolyn S. Lacey, M.D.; Ian C. Riddock, M.D. and Michael Lee, R.Ph., M.A. Author disclosures are on the abstract.

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Multimedia resources, including taped interviews with an AHA expert offering perspective on the science, are available on the right column of this link http://newsroom.heart.org/news/energy-drinks-may-increase-blood-pressure-disturb-heart-rhythm?preview=027fba168c9231c8494f7c7607e688ba

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NOTE : The scientific presentation of this abstract is at 5:00 p.m. CT / 6:00 p.m. ET Thursday, March 21.  ALL NEWS MATERIALS ARE EMBARGOED UNTIL THE TIME OF PRESENTATION OR 4 P.M. ET EACH DAY, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

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