A randomized, placebo-controlled crossover trial of a decaffeinated energy drink shows no significant acute effect on mental energy

ABSTRACT Background “Energy drinks” are heavily marketed to the general public, across the age spectrum. The efficacy of decaffeinated energy drinks in enhancing subjective feelings of energy (s-energy) is controversial. Objective The authors sought to test the efficacy of the caffeine-free version of a popular energy drink compared with a placebo drink. Methods This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 223 healthy men and women aged 18–70 y with intention-to-treat and completers analysis. Participants were randomly assigned to consumption of either the decaffeinated energy drink or a placebo drink on testing day 1, and the other drink a week later. A battery of computer-based mood and cognitive tests to assess s-energy was conducted at baseline and at 0.5, 2.5, and 5 h post-ingestion. The main outcome measures were 1) mood, which was assessed by using a General Status Check Scale and the Profile of Mood States 2nd edition brief form, and 2) cognitive measures, including the N-back task (reaction time and accuracy), Reaction Time test, Flanker task (distraction avoidance), and Rapid Visual Information Processing test. Results No statistically significant or meaningful benefits were observed for any outcome measure, including mood and cognitive measures. Analyses of mean differences, slopes, and median differences were consistent. Conclusions No differences were detected across a range of mood/cognitive/behavioral/s-energy–level tests after consumption of the energy drink compared with a placebo drink in this diverse sample of adults. Thus, we found strong evidence that the energy drink is not efficacious in enhancing s-energy levels, nor any related cognitive or behavioral variables measured. In light of federal regulations, these findings suggest that labeling and marketing of some products which claim to provide these benefits may be unsubstantiated. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02727920.

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Abstract 18257: Cardiovascular Response to Energy Drink Consumption in Healthy Adults

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.130.suppl_2.18257 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽

Author(s):

Anna Svatikova ◽

Naima Covassin ◽

Krishen Somers ◽

Filip Soucek ◽

Tomas Kara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Cardiovascular Response ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Healthy Adults ◽

Double Blind ◽

Resting Blood Pressure ◽

Energy Drink Consumption ◽

Placebo Drink

Introduction: An increasing number of healthy adults consume energy drinks to enhance their physical and mental performance. Energy drinks contain caffeine and multiple other “natural” stimulants and their combined effects on cardiac hemodynamics in healthy individuals are unclear. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that drinking a commercially available energy drink, Rockstar , compared to a placebo drink, increases resting blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults, and these increases would be further accentuated by stress conditions. Methods: We enrolled 25 healthy, normotensive subjects (14 males), aged 29±1 years, with body mass index 24.5±1 kg/m 2 , in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Each subject consumed a placebo drink and a commercially available Rockstar energy drink (473 ml), in random order on two separate study days. Blood pressure and heart rate responses were recorded and compared before and 30 minutes after drink consumption, both at rest and then in response to physical, mental and cold stressors. Results: The Rockstar energy drink induced a 6±1% increase in resting systolic blood pressure, compared to 3±1% with the placebo drink (P=0.0078). Diastolic blood pressure increased by 7±1% vs 0±1% with the placebo drink (P=0.0007; Figure 1). Heart rate increased similarly in both groups, by 5±2% in the energy drink group vs. 7±2% in the placebo group. Blood pressure and heart rate increases during the stress stimuli (sustained handgrip, mental stress and cold stress) did not differ between energy drink and placebo. Conclusions: Drinking a commercially available Rockstar energy drink significantly increases resting blood pressure in young healthy adults. Blood pressure increases are not further accentuated by exercise, mental or cold pressor stress stimuli. These hemodynamic changes induced by energy drink consumption could predispose to cardiovascular events.

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The Effects of an Energy Drink on Psychomotor Vigilance in Trained Individuals

Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology ◽

10.3390/jfmk4030047 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Antonio ◽

Kenyon ◽

Horn ◽

Jiannine ◽

Carson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reaction Time ◽

Fixed Time ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Time Frame ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Test Reaction ◽

Double Blind ◽

Psychomotor Vigilance Test ◽

Vigilance Test ◽

Psychomotor Vigilance

The psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) measures one’s behavioral alertness. It is a visual test that involves measuring the speed at which a person reacts to visual stimuli over a fixed time frame (e.g., 5 min). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an energy drink on psychomotor vigilance as well as a simple measure of muscular endurance (i.e., push-ups). A total of 20 exercise-trained men (n = 11) and women (n = 9) (mean SD: age 32 7 years; height 169 10 cm; weight; 74.5 14.5 kg; percent body fat 20.3 6.2%; years of training 14 9; daily caffeine intake 463 510 mg) volunteered for this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. In a randomized counterbalanced order, they consumed either the energy drink (ED) (product: BANG®, Weston Florida) or a similar tasting placebo drink (PL). In the second visit after a 1-week washout period, they consumed the alternate drink. A full 30 minutes post-consumption, they performed the following tests in this order: a 5-minute psychomotor vigilance test, three sets of push-ups, followed once more by a 5-minute psychomotor vigilance test. Reaction time was recorded. For the psychomotor vigilance test, lapses, false starts and efficiency score are also assessed. There were no differences between groups for the number of push-ups that were performed or the number of false starts during the psychomotor vigilance test. However, the ED treatment resulted in a significantly lower (i.e., faster) psychomotor vigilance mean reaction time compared to the PL (p = 0.0220) (ED 473.8 42.0 milliseconds, PL 482.4 54.0 milliseconds). There was a trend for the ED to lower the number of lapses (i.e., reaction time > 500 milliseconds) (p = 0.0608). The acute consumption of a commercially available ED produced a significant improvement in psychomotor vigilance in exercise-trained men and women.

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The use of energy drinks in sport: perceived ergogenicity and side effects in male and female athletes

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114514002189 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (9) ◽

pp. 1494-1502 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Juan J. Salinero ◽

Beatriz Lara ◽

Javier Abian-Vicen ◽

Cristina Gonzalez-Millán ◽

Francisco Areces ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Side Effects ◽

Female Athletes ◽

Muscle Power ◽

Training Session ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Double Blind ◽

Male And Female ◽

Adverse Side Effects ◽

Physiological Variables

The use of caffeine containing energy drinks has dramatically increased in the last few years, especially in the sport context because of its reported ergogenic effect. The ingestion of low to moderate doses of caffeinated energy drinks has been associated with adverse side effects such as insomnia or increased nervousness. The aim of the present study was to assess psycho-physiological changes and the prevalence of side effects resulting from the ingestion of 3 mg caffeine/kg body mass in the form of an energy drink. In a double-blind and placebo controlled experimental design, ninety experienced and low-caffeine-consuming athletes (fifty-three male and thirty-seven female) in two different sessions were provided with an energy drink that contained 3 mg/kg of caffeine or the same decaffeinated energy drink (placebo; 0 mg/kg). At 60 min after the ingestion of the energy drink, participants completed a training session. The effects of ingestion of these beverages on psycho-physiological variables during exercise and the rate of adverse side effects were measured using questionnaires. The caffeinated energy drink increased self-perceived muscle power during exercise compared with the placebo beverage (6·41 (sd1·7)v.5·66 (sd1·51);P= 0·001). Moreover, the energy drink produced a higher prevalence of side effects such as insomnia (31·2v.10·4 %;P< 0·001), nervousness (13·2v.0 %;P= 0·002) and activeness (16·9v.3·9 %;P= 0·007) than the placebo energy drink. There were no sex differences in the incidence of side effects (P>0·05). The ingestion of an energy drink with 3 mg/kg of caffeine increased the prevalence of side effects. The presence of these side effects was similar between male and female participants.

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Enhancing Physical Performance in Male Volleyball Players with a Caffeine-Containing Energy Drink

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2013-0448 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 9 (6) ◽

pp. 1013-1018 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Juan Del Coso ◽

Alberto Pérez-López ◽

Javier Abian-Vicen ◽

Juan Jose Salinero ◽

Beatriz Lara ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Performance ◽

Body Mass ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Scientific Data ◽

Caffeine Intake ◽

Double Blind ◽

Jump Test ◽

Volleyball Players ◽

Randomized Experimental Design ◽

Placebo Drink

There are no scientific data about the effects of caffeine intake on volleyball performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a caffeine-containing energy drink to enhance physical performance in male volleyball players. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized experimental design was used. In 2 different sessions separated by 1 wk, 15 college volleyball players ingested 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass in the form of an energy drink or the same drink without caffeine (placebo). After 60 min, participants performed volleyball-specific tests: standing spike test, maximal squat jump (SJ), maximal countermovement jump (CMJ), 15-s rebound jump test (15RJ), and agility T-test. Later, a simulated volleyball match was played and recorded. In comparison with the placebo drink, the ingestion of the caffeinated energy drink increased ball velocity in the spike test (73 ± 9 vs 75 ± 10 km/h, P < .05) and the mean jump height in SJ (31.1 ± 4.3 vs 32.7 ± 4.2 cm, P < .05), CMJ (35.9 ± 4.6 vs 37.7 ± 4.4 cm, P < .05), and 15RJ (29.0 ± 4.0 vs 30.5 ± 4.6 cm, P < .05). The time to complete the agility test was significantly reduced with the caffeinated energy drink (10.8 ± 0.7 vs 10.3 ± 0.4 s, P < .05). In addition, players performed successful volleyball actions more frequently (24.6% ± 14.3% vs 34.3% ± 16.5%, P < .05) with the ingestion of the caffeinated energy drink than with the placebo drink during the simulated game. A caffeine-containing energy drink, with a dose equivalent to 3 mg of caffeine per kg body mass, might be an effective ergogenic aid to improve physical performance and accuracy in male volleyball players.

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Caffeinated Energy Drinks Improve High-Speed Running in Elite Field Hockey Players

International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism ◽

10.1123/ijsnem.2015-0128 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 26-32 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Juan Del Coso ◽

Javier Portillo ◽

Juan José Salinero ◽

Beatriz Lara ◽

Javier Abian-Vicen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Mass ◽

High Intensity ◽

High Speed ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

Energy Drink ◽

Moderate Intensity ◽

Field Hockey ◽

Hockey Players ◽

Gps Devices ◽

Placebo Drink

The aim of this investigation was to determine the efficacy of a caffeine-containing energy drink to improve physical performance of elite field hockey players during a game. On 2 days separated by a week, 13 elite field hockey players (age and body mass = 23.2 ± 3.9 years and 76.1 ± 6.1 kg) ingested 3 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass in the form of an energy drink or the same drink without caffeine (placebo drink). After 60 min for caffeine absorption, participants played a simulated field hockey game (2 × 25 min). Individual running pace and instantaneous speed during the game were assessed using GPS devices. The total number of accelerations and decelerations was determined by accelerometry. Compared with the placebo drink, the caffeinated energy drink did not modify the total distance covered during the game (6,035 ± 451 m and 6,055 ± 499 m, respectively; p = .87), average heart rate (155 ± 13 beats per min and 158 ± 18 beats per min, respectively; p = .46), or the number of accelerations and decelerations (697 ± 285 and 618 ± 221, respectively; p = .15). However, the caffeinated energy drink reduced the distance covered at moderate-intensity running (793 ± 135 and 712 ± 116, respectively; p = .03) and increased the distance covered at high-intensity running (303 ± 67 m and 358 ± 117 m; p = .05) and sprinting (85 ± 41 m and 117 ± 55 m, respectively; p = .02). Elite field hockey players can benefit from ingesting caffeinated energy drinks because they increase the running distance covered at high-intensity running and sprinting. Increased running distance at high speed might represent a meaningful advantage for field hockey performance.

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Abstract P394: Impact of Caffeinated Versus Decaffeinated Energy Shots on Blood Pressure

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.127.suppl_12.ap394 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 127 (suppl_12) ◽

Author(s):

Sachin A Shah ◽

Abby Kurtz ◽

Jessica Leong ◽

Anthony E Dargush

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Heart Rate ◽

Energy Levels ◽

Coffee Consumption ◽

Energy Drinks ◽

University Campus ◽

Double Blind ◽

Blood Pressures ◽

Energy Shots ◽

Double Blind Crossover Study

Introduction: Energy drinks are commonly used to boost cognitive performance. However, this is paralleled with a significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. No studies have evaluated these changes with energy “shots” and whether these effects are driven solely by the caffeine component in energy drinks or a multitude of ingredients remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if the effects of regular (caffeinated) 5-Hour Energy® shot differ from that of decaffeinated 5-Hour Energy® (decaf) shot as assessed by changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, crossover study conducted at a university campus. Healthy subjects, between 18-40 years of age with a blood pressure less than 140/90 and not on any medications were eligible for inclusion. Participants were randomized into either the regular 5-Hour Energy® drink or the decaf 5-Hour Energy® drink study arms with blood pressure recorded at baseline, 1, 3 and 5 hours. Following a washout period of at least 6 days, the same was performed giving the alternate study drink. Additionally, heart rate, adverse events and energy score (1-5 scale) were also assessed. Results: Ten males and 10 females were enrolled in the study with 90% (18 of 20) being of Asian race. Average age was 23.3±2.7 years, weighing 149.1±31.7 pounds with SBP of 114±11.3 mmHg and DBP of 69.5±7.6 mmHg. Baseline coffee consumption was less than 2 cups per week in 11 subjects and at least 1 cup per day in the remainder. The maximum SBP increase from baseline in the regular arm was 7.8±6.5 mmHg versus 2.8±5.6 mmHg in the decaf arm (p = 0.046). Maximum DBP increase was 6.3±3.7mmHg and 1.0±5.4 mmHg (p = 0.003) in the regular and decaf arms, respectively. Significant increases in systolic and diastolic pressures were evident at 1 and 3 hours post consumption (p ≤ 0.027) but not at 5 hours. Maximum heart rate or energy levels between the two groups were not significantly different (p ≥ 0.436). In subgroup analysis, regular energy drinks invoked a significantly higher increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p ≤ 0.003) 1 hour post consumption in caffeine naïve subjects (n=11). Conclusion: Regular energy drinks available in the form of a “shot” increase both systolic and diastolic blood pressures by approximately 5mmHg. This effect appears to be exaggerated in caffeine naïve subjects.

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