title: Acute effects of Red Bull energy drink on ventricular repolarization in healthy young volunteers: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Energy drinks (EDs) are widely consumed products of the beverage industry and are often chosen by teenagers and young adults. Several adverse cardiovascular events and malignant cardiac arrhythmias following consumption of EDs have been reported in the literature. Several studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the dispersion of repolarization and that an increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. This study investigated the acute effects of Red Bull ED on ventricular repolarization as assessed by the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective, open-label study design was used. After an 8-h fast, 50 young, healthy subjects consumed 355 mL of Red Bull ED. The Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QTc ratio, and several other electrocardiographic parameters were measured at baseline and 2 h after ingestion of Red Bull ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes in the Tp-e interval or Tp-e/QTc ratio were observed with Red Bull ED consumption. Red Bull ED consumption led to increases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressures, which were associated with an increased heart rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although ingestion of Red Bull ED increases the heart rate and diastolic and systolic blood pressures, it does not cause alterations in ventricular repolarization as assessed by the Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio.
authors: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of İstanbul Medicine, İstanbul University; İstanbul-Turkey. fahrettin_oz@hotmail.com.
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Elitok
authors: Fahrettin
authors: F
authors: Öz
authors: Cafer
authors: C
authors: Panc
authors: Remzi
authors: R
authors: Sarıkaya
authors: Selim
authors: S
authors: Sezikli
authors: Yasin
authors: Y
authors: Pala
authors: Övgü Sinem
authors: ÖS
authors: Bugan
authors: Müge
authors: M
authors: Ateş
authors: Hilal
authors: H
authors: Parıldar
authors: Mustafa Buğra
authors: MB
authors: Ayaz
authors: Adem
authors: A
authors: Atıcı
authors: Hüseyin
authors: H
authors: Oflaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001628:Beverages; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine