Researchers from the University of Siena found that energy drinks enhance contractions of both the left and right ventricles, the pumping chambers of the heart.
"With energy drinks containing both caffeine and taurine concerns have been raised of adverse effects on the heart. While caffeine increases blood pressure, studies suggest that taurine may stimulate the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum," lead researcher, Dr Matteo Cameli said.
In the study, the researchers used speckle-tracking echocardiography, the avant-garde technique in echocardiography, and echo Doppler analysis to explore the influence of energy drinks on heart function.
For the study 35 healthy subjects (mean age 25 years), drank a body surface area indexed amount of an energy drink (168 ml/m2) containing caffeine and taurine.
Assessments of heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular function and right ventricular function were undertaken at baseline and one hour after consumption.
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Heart rate increased by 1.2 per cent, systolic blood pressure increased by 2.6 per cent and diastolic blood pressure increased by 6 per cent.
"This confirms that a standard energy drink consumption induces a light increase in diastolic blood pressure," Cameli said in a statement.
The study was presented at the European Cardiology Congress in Munich.
