Evaluation of Systemic Microvascular Reactivity After Ingestion of an Energy Drink in Young Male Volunteers

Completed

• Conditions: Endothelial Function
• Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Ingestion of mineral water; Dietary Supplement: Ingestion of the energy drink (Red Bull®)

• Registration Number: NCT05575895
• Lead Sponsor: National Institute of Cardiology, Laranjeiras, Brazil

Brief Summary

Purpose: Energy drinks (EDs) are nonalcoholic beverages whose main ingredients are sugar, taurine, and caffeine. Their consumption is rising worldwide, with only few conflicting studies examining their vascular effects in young adults. We evaluated microvascular reactivity (MR) before and after ED in young healthy male volunteers.

Methods: Systemic MR was evaluated in the skin of the forearm using laser speckle contrast imaging with acetylcholine (ACh) iontophoresis before, 90 and 180 minutes after the consumption of one can of ED or the same volume of water (control), followed by postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH).

Detailed Description

Energy drinks (EDs) are nonalcoholic beverages whose main ingredients are sugar, taurine, and caffeine. These products are marketed as boosters of mental and physical performance and are increasingly used in Western societies. Case reports of adverse effects related to ED consumption have been described in healthy young individuals, including coronary artery vasospasm, and myocardial infarction. These data suggest that endothelial dysfunction (EDysf) plays a role in ED cardiovascular effects and have prompted studies with conflicting results. The present study evaluated the microvascular reactivity (MR) after ingestion of one can of ED compared to a control, in young healthy male volunteers.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-01-10
• Primary Completion: 2022-06-10
• Study Completion: 2022-06-30
• Status Verified: 2022-10
• Study First Submitted: 2022-10-05
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-10-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-10-11
• Study First Posted: 2022-10-12
• Last Update Posted: 2022-10-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Male
• Target Recruitment: 22

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy male volunteers with no relevant findings in the medical history

Exclusion Criteria

• being a competitive athlete;
• being on regular medication;
• using illicit drugs;
• being allergic to coffee, taurine or any of the components of the selected energy drink; - -
• having a body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Control	Ingestion of mineral water	Ingestion of 250 ml of mineral water (Minalba®) - Evaluation of systemic skin microvascular endothelial function Laser-based method for evaluating non-invasive, operator-independent systemic microvascular function that detects microvascular flow in the skin for the evaluation of systemic vascular endothelial function.
Energy Drink	Ingestion of the energy drink (Red Bull®)	Ingestion of 250 ml of the energy drink (Red Bull®) - Evaluation of systemic skin microvascular endothelial function Laser-based method for evaluating non-invasive, operator-independent systemic microvascular function that detects microvascular flow in the skin for the evaluation of systemic vascular endothelial function.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Endothelium-dependent skin microvascular reactivity	Microvascular reactivity will be evaluated after a 20-minute rest in the supine position in a temperature-controlled room.	Cutaneous microvascular flow measured with laser speckle contrast imaging

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

National Institute of Cardiology, Ministry of Health, Brazil; 🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Eduardo Tibiriçá; 🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil