MedPath

Interaction of Alcohol With Energy Drinks

Phase 1
Completed
Conditions
Drinking and Driving
Alcohol-Related Disorders
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Energy drink
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Dietary Supplement: Alcohol and energy drink
Dietary Supplement: Alcohol
Registration Number
NCT02771587
Lead Sponsor
Parc de Salut Mar
Brief Summary

The main objective of the project is to assess whether there is an interaction between the effects of ethanol and energy drinks on driving performance.

Secondary objectives include: to evaluate subjective effects (drunkenness) after administration of alcohol and energy drinks, to assess pharmacokinetics of alcohol, caffeine and taurine after alcohol and energy drinks administration and to assess if there is an increased risk of bleeding when both drinks are taken together.

Detailed Description

Consumption of energy drinks improve psychomotor performance and alertness. These drinks contain mostly caffeine, taurine and vitamins. Its consumption associated with ethanol may reduce feelings of drunkenness as the stimulant effects of caffeine could counteract the depressing effects of ethanol on the central nervous system. Reducing the perception of intoxication may predispose the intoxicated person to engage in risky behaviors such as driving under the influence of ethanol and therefore can increase the risk of a traffic accident. Furthermore, the combination of both beverages may increase the risk of bleeding in case of injury as anticoagulant effects have been described for ethanol while antiplatelet effects have been described for caffeine and taurine. A randomized clinical trial will be performed in healthy volunteers administering 4 treatment conditions: alcohol+energy drink, alcohol+placebo of energy drink, placebo of alcohol+energy drink and placebo of alcohol+placebo of energy drink. A multiple dose will be administered separated by 1 hour.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
16
Inclusion Criteria
  • Understand and accept the study's procedures and sign an informed consent form
  • No evidence of somatic or psychiatric disorders as per past medical history and physical examination
  • EKG, blood and urine tests taken before entry into the study within the normal range. Minor and transient abnormalities may be acceptable if, according to the Principal Investigator's criterion and the state of the art, they are felt to have no clinical relevance, entail no danger to the participant, and don't interfere with the product's assessment. These abnormalities and their non-relevance must be specifically justified in writing)
  • Body mass index (BMI=weight/heigth2) between 19 and 27 kg/m2, weight between 50 and 100 kg
  • For premenopausal females, a regular menstrual cycle of 26-32 days duration.
  • Social or recreational alcohol consumption of at least 1 unit per day (or its equivalent [7 units] over the whole week) and having experienced drunkenness several times
  • Regular consumption of beverages containing methylxanthines (at least 5 per week)
  • Consumption of energy drinks several times previously
  • Having a driving license
Exclusion Criteria
  • Evidence of a preexisting condition (including gastrointestinal, liver, or kidney disorders) that may alter the absorption, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the drug or symptoms suggestive of drug-induced gastrointestinal irritation
  • Previous psychiatric disorders, alcoholism, abuse of prescription drugs or illegal substances or regular consumption of psychoactive drugs
  • Having donated blood or having participated in this same study in the preceding 8 weeks, or having participated in any clinical trial with drugs in the preceding 12 weeks
  • Having had any somatic disease or having undergone major surgery in the 3 months prior to inclusion in the trial
  • Individuals intolerant or having experienced a severe adverse reaction to alcohol or energy drinks
  • Having regularly taken medication in the month before the trial, except for vitamins, herb-based remedies, dietary supplements that if, according to the Principal Investigator or his appointed collaborators' opinion, they pose no threat to the subjects and they won't interfere with the study's objectives. Single doses of symptomatic drugs taken during the week before the experimental session will not constitute an exclusion criterion if it can be assumed that it has been completely eliminated on the day of the experimental session
  • Smokers of >5 cigarettes/day
  • Consumption of >20 g/day of alcohol (females) or of >40 g/day (males)
  • Daily consumption of more than 5 coffees, teas, cola drinks or other stimulant or xanthine-containing beverages in the 3 months prior to inclusion in the study
  • Hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus-positive individuals
  • Pregnant or lactating women, or those using hormonal or unreliable contraceptive methods during the study period. Complete abstinence, intrauterine devices, double barrier methods or a vasectomized sexual partner will be considered acceptable
  • Women with amenorrhea or suffering severe premenstrual syndrome
  • Individuals of Asian ascent

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
FACTORIAL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Energy drinkEnergy drink3 energy drinks (750 ml), multiple dose (375 ml+ 375 ml), oral administration. Font Vella water (188ml), multiple dose (94 ml+ 94 ml), oral administration.
PlaceboPlacebo3 non-caffeinated soft drinks (750 ml), multiple dose (375 ml+375 ml), oral administration. Font Vella water (188ml), multiple dose (94 ml+ 94 ml), oral administration.
Alcohol and energy drinkAlcohol and energy drinkAlcohol 60 g, multiple dose (30 g+30 g), oral administration. 3 energy drinks (750 ml), multiple dose (375 ml+375 ml), oral administration.
AlcoholAlcoholAlcohol 60 g, multiple dose (30 g+30 g), oral administration. 3 non-caffeinated soft drinks (750 ml), multiple dose (375 ml+375 ml), oral administration.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in tracking test performanceFrom baseline till 4 hours after administration

The total time outside the road will be measured in the tracking test

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Maximum concentration (Cmax) of caffeineFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Time to reach maximum concentration (tmax) of ethanolFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-8h) of ethanol breath air concentrationsFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Calculation of AUC of ethanol concentrations obtained baseline and 0.25, 0.50, 0.75,1, 1.50, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 4, 6 and 8h after administration

Maximum concentration (Cmax) of taurineFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Maximum concentration (Cmax) of ethanolFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Change in drunkennessFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Drunkenness will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Change in drowsinessFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Drowsiness will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Change in headacheFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Headache will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Change in palpitationsFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Palpitations will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Change in anxietyFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Anxiety will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-8h) of caffeine blood concentrationsFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Calculation of AUC of ethanol concentrations obtained baseline and 0,25, 0.50,1, 1.50, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8h after administration

Like the drug (drink)At the end of each experimental session

Drug liking will be measured using a visual analog scale (0-100 mm)

Change in subjective effects measured with Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI)From baseline till 8 hours after administration

Subjective effects of alcohol and caffeine will be measured using Addiction Research Center Inventory

Change in subjective effects measured with Biphasic alcohol effects scale (BAES)From baseline till 8 hours after administration

Subjective effects of alcohol will be measured using BAES

Change in blood pressureFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure will be measured

Change in heart rateFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Heart rate will be measured

Change in oral temperatureFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Oral temperature will be measured

Number of participants with serious and non-serious adverse eventsFrom inclusion till one week after the last experimental session

Collection of adverse effects spontaneously reported by the participants and/or observed by the investigators

Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-8h) of ethanol blood concentrationsFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Calculation of AUC of ethanol concentrations obtained baseline and 0.25, 0.50h , 0.75, 1, 1.50, 1.75, 2, 2.25, 2.5, 3, 4, 6 and 8h after administration

Area under the concentration-time curve (AUC 0-8h) of taurine blood concentrationsFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration

Calculation of AUC of ethanol concentrations obtained baseline and 0.50,1, 1.50, 2, 4, 6 and 8h after administration

Change in simple reaction time (SRT)From baseline till 4 hours after administration

Test will be performed using the computerized cognitive testing battery CANTAB and mean latency will be measured

Change in movement estimationFrom baseline till 4 hours after administration

The lapse of time between actual and predicted time will be measured in a movement estimation task

Change in memory functionFrom baseline till 4 hours after administration

The N-Back test will be performed with 2 different options: 0 back test and 2 back test

Time to reach maximum concentration (tmax) of caffeineFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Time to reach maximum concentration (tmax) of taurineFrom baseline till 8 hours after administration
Blood coagulation prothrombinFrom baseline till 2 hours after administration

Prothrombin time (PT) and ratio will be measured

Blood coagulation thromboplastinFrom baseline till 2 hours after administration

Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and ratio will be measured

Platelet aggregation (function)From baseline till 2 hours after administration

Platelet function (PFA) will be measured

Platelet countFrom baseline till 2 hours after administration

Platelet count will be measured

Change in willingness to driveFrom baseline till 6 hours after administration

Willingness to drive in 3 different situations will be measured by means of a visual analog scale

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Parc de Salut Mar-IMIM

šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡ø

Barcelona, Spain

IMIM

šŸ‡ŖšŸ‡ø

Barcelona, Spain

Ā© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath