Acute effects of energy drink consumption on left and right ventricular function – a 2-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiographic study

Abstract

Aim    Energy drinks (ED) contain high levels of caffeine and taurine and are associated with several cardiovascular effects. We investigated acute effects of consuming low caffeine and taurine content ED on left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) function assessed by conventional and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.Material and methods    In this crossover study, 34 healthy adults, age 19–48 yrs, drank an ED containing 53.25 milligrams of caffeine, 284 mg of taurine, or an equal volume of control drink (CD) on two separate sessions, 7–10 days apart. Standard echocardiographic and speckle tracking imaging were performed before and 60 min after consumption of the study beverages.Results    Compared to CD, ED caused a significant increase in tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (p=0.04) and RV systolic wave velocity (p=0.01) with no effect on global longitudinal strain when compared to CD. LV systolic function was not altered, but mitral early diastolic velocity by tissue Doppler imaging was significantly higher (p=0.031), and early diastolic strain rate, as measured by speckle tracking echocardiography, was significantly lower (p=0.022).Conclusion    Reduced caffeine and taurine content ED does not affect LV systolic function, but increases RV longitudinal contractility and improves LV early diastolic filling.