title: Consumption of energy beverage is associated with attenuation of arterial endothelial flow-mediated dilatation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether consumption of an energy drink will acutely impair endothelial function in young healthy adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Energy drinks are being consumed more and more worldwide, and have been associated with some deaths in adolescents and young adults, especially when consumed while exercising. After fasting and not smoking for at least 8 h prior, eleven medical students (9 males) received an electrocardiogram, blood pressure and pulse check, and underwent baseline testing (BL) of endothelial function using the technique of endothelium-dependent flow mediated dilatation (FMD) with high-resolution ultrasound (according to recommended guidelines of the University of Wisconsin Atherosclerosis Imaging Research Program Core Laboratory). The subjects then drank an energy beverage (EB), a 24-oz can of Monster Energy, and the above was repeated at 90 min after consumption. The relative FMD (%) was calculated as the ratio between the average post-cuff release and the baseline diameter. Each image was checked for quality control, and each artery diameter was measured from the media to media points by two experts, 3 measurements at the QRS complex, repeated on 3 separate beats, and then all were averaged.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects characteristics averages (given with standard deviations) include: Age 24.5 ± 1.5 years, sex 9 male and 2 female, weight 71.0 ± 9.1 kg, height 176.4 ± 6.0 cm, BMI 22.8 ± 2.7 kg/m2. The hemodynamics were as follows, BLvsEB group respectively (mean ± SD): Heart rate 65.2 ± 11.3vs68.2 ± 11.8 beats per minute, systolic blood pressure 114.0 ± 10.4 mmHgvs114.1 ± 10.4 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure 68.8 ± 9.3 mmHgvs70.6 ± 7.1 mmHg; all were not significantly different. However after drinking the EB, a significantly attenuated peak FMD response was measured (mean ± SD): BL group 5.9% ± 4.6%vsEB group 1.9% ± 2.1%;P= 0.03). Given the increased consumption of energy beverages associated with exercise in young adults, more research is needed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Energy beverage consumption has a negative impact on arterial endothelial function in young healthy adults.
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Higgins
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Nikki E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Herrin
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Santi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yarlagadda
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Le
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Brandon L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Asif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: John P Higgins, Nikki E Herrin, Santi Yarlagadda, Brandon L Ortiz, Asif Ali, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, United States.
authors.forename: Stephen C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Infanger
keywords: Blood pressure; Endothelial function; Energy drinks; Exercise; Flow mediated dilatation