Energy drinks have been reported to be one of the reasons for the increase in fatal heart disorders, particularly on athletes. Reports say, however, that caffeine content is not what's causing the complications. Recent studies show that there are other ingredients that might be causing an increased rate of deaths that lead to various heart problems.
Experts have warned those with high blood pressure or congenital heart conditions to limit if not avoid the intake of such energy drinks as they have caused a significant interference in the electric signals that keep the organ in its most healthy and functional state.
The participants in the trial were between 18 years old to 40. The observations reveal that the beating of the heart was altered four hours after taking the energy drink. While the drinks that have been tested contain high levels of caffeine, scientists could only expect such type of changes in the heartbeat after drinking 400 milligrams of caffeine. But the drinks only contained 304 to 320 milligrams of caffeine per 32 ounces of fluid. Such electrocardiographic changes should not have happened then.
Instead, they are looking at a certain ingredient or a combination of such ingredients that may be causing such disturbance. The research team from the University of the Pacific used the electrocardiogram to measure the electrical activity present in the body of the participants. They also kept a record of the blood pressure of the participants in the duration of the study. All the measurements were taken before the start of the study and four hours later, after the consumption of the energy drink.
The recorded time of the interval between the heartbeat of those who have taken the energy drink is significantly different than those that got the placebo. When the QT interval is too short or too long than normal, it could cause arrhythmia, a condition that can be dangerously fatal.
"We urgently need to look into the ingredients or the combination of ingredients used in making these energy drinks to help find an explanation to the findings of the clinical trial," said Prof. Sachin A Shah, lead author of the study. "The public should be made aware of how these drinks affect them especially when they have underlying health conditions that they may not be aware of."
The results of the study have been published in the journal of the American Heart Association Report.
