Abstract
BACKGROUND: Energy drinks are popular among adolescents and young adults for their perceived benefits in enhancing energy, alertness, and performance. These beverages often contain high levels of caffeine, sugar, and various stimulants, which may have acute effects on cardiovascular health. Arterial stiffness, assessed by augmentation index (AIx), is a key indicator of cardiovascular health and can be influenced by these beverages. This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of energy drink consumption on arterial stiffness in healthy young adults. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 64 healthy subjects with normal blood pressure (BP) and no cardiovascular or metabolic disorders participated. After a baseline measurement of vascular and hemodynamic parameters, participants consumed a can of energy drink. Measurements of arterial stiffness, including AIx, pulse wave velocity (PWV), and central BP, were taken at baseline and then 30 minutes and 2 hours post consumption using a validated non-invasive system. RESULTS: Significant decreases in diastolic BP at both peripheral and central were observed at 2 hours compared to baseline (P = .011 and P = .020, respectively). Total vascular resistance decreased notably over time (P = .044). While stroke volume, cardiac out-put, cardiac index, heart rate, PWV, augmentation pressure, and coefficient of reflection remained stable, significant transient increases in AIx and AIx@75 were recorded at 30 minutes after energy drink consumption (P = .016 and P = .005, respectively), returning to baseline values by 2 hours, indicating a transient but notable effect on arterial stiffness. CONCLUSION: This study underscores the need for caution regarding energy drink consumption, particularly among young people, due to its acute effects on arterial stiffness. Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and underlying mechanisms of energy drinks on cardiovascular health.