Impact of Single Use of Energy Drink on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Healthy Medical Students

Globally, the popularity of energy drinks is steadily increasing. After being first introduced around 1960, they have been increasingly used all over the world for the promotion of mental concentration and vigilance. Although few of these claims have been partly demonstrated in a few athlete-targeted surveys, many more health concerns are increasingly unfolded about the excessive consumption of energy drinks. A number of investigations focused on the hemodynamic effects of the consumption of energy drinks on healthy individuals; some of which found a statistically significant effect on heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP)

To evaluate the acute effects of the consumption of energy drinks on blood pressure and heart rate in a group of healthy medical students.

The study was conducted on 40 healthy MBBS students studying in Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in the age group of 19 to 22 years. Blood pressure and pulse rate were recorded pre and 1 hour post consumption of energy drink in the subjects.

Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out on the data obtained in the present study. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased 1 hour post consumption of energy drink but not statistically significant. Heart rate increased significantly 1 hour post consumption of energy drink.

A statistically significant increase in heart rate was observed in the subjects one hour after consumption of energy drink (pre=78.6±9.03, post=83.4±10.08, p value=0.05*). Though there was no statistically significant change in blood pressure, systolic BP increased by 3 mm of Hg (from 112.2±9.96 to 115.3±9.86) and diastolic BP increased by 2mm of Hg (from 71±7.32 to 72.2±6.75).