Study: Energy drinks boost blood pressure, heart rate

DETROIT People who have high blood pressure or heart disease should avoid consuming energy drinks, according to a Henry Ford Hospital study released Tuesday.

Researchers found that healthy adults who drank two cans per day of a popular energy drink experienced an increase in their blood pressure and heart rate.

No significant changes in EKG measurements were reported.

The increases in blood pressure and heart rate were insignificant for healthy adults, but could prove harmful to people with a heart-related condition, concluded James Kalus, senior manager of Patient Care Services at Henry Ford Hospital and lead author of the study.

“Based on our findings, we recommend that people who have hypertension or heart disease and are taking medication for them to avoid consuming energy drinks because of a potential risk to their health,” Kalus said.

Researchers believe the caffeine and taurine levels in energy drinks could be responsible for increases in blood pressure and heart rate. The brand of energy drink used in the study was not identified because most energy drinks on the market boast similar levels of caffeine and taurine, a non-essential amino acid derivative often found in meat and fish. The caffeine levels in energy drinks are equivalent to at least one to two cups of coffee, the researchers noted.

The study is slated for publication in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy.