Background: Many studies on the cardiovascular complications linked to energy drinks consumption imply that their effect on endothelial function might be a causal factor in subsequent cardiac events.
Aim: This research investigated whether energy drinks consumption could cause acute endothelial function impairment as surrogated by flow-mediated dilation in healthy young adults.
Subjects and methods: This observational study was done in Benha University Hospital in the period from July 2021 to June 2022, and included 50 healthy young adults for analyzing the normal endothelial function before and after consuming a single popular energy drink (ED) can, to assess its effect on endothelial function. All subjects underwent full history taking, clinical examination, Electrocardiogram, and flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) measurements.
Results: We included 50 healthy adults (mean age 24.02 ±2.69 years, 56% males). Regarding flow-mediated dilation parameters mean (SD) of pre-cuff brachial a diameter 90 m after ED was 3.82 ±0.43 mm (percent change= 4.66%, P < 0.001) while mean of post-cuff brachial a diameter 90 m after ED was 4.06 ± 0.40 mm (percent change= 2.11%, P=0.001), and relative FMD 90 m After ED was 6.43 ± 2.69 (percent change= -15.75%, P= 0.040). Regarding Hemodynamic changes, there was a statistically significant difference before and after energy drink consumption regarding systolic, diastolic blood pressures, and heart rate (P < 0.001 for all).
Conclusion: The young healthy participants who consumed energy drinks exhibited a considerable high heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and a considerable decline in endothelial function.