Consuming a single energy drink can cause short-term changes in healthy adults that could increase their risk of heart disease over time, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Free Energy Drink Class Action Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was injured by energy drink side effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
What’s the Problem?
November 8, 2015 – For the study, which was published today and presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions meeting in Orlando, 25 healthy adults were recruited for evaluation. On 2 separate days, the test subjects’ blood pressure, heart rate and blood levels of caffeine, glucose and norepinephrine were measured. The researchers then asked the researchers to consume either one 16-oz. (480 milliliters) can of Rockstar Energy Drink or a placebo.
Thirty minutes after the participants finished the beverages, their measurements were taken again. The volunteers also underwent a number of tests that increased their physical and mental stress, during which the researchers once again measured their blood pressure and heart rate levels.
After consuming the energy drink, the subjects’ systolic blood pressure increased by an average of 6.6 points (from 108.4 mm Hg to 115.0 mm Hg) compared with an average increase of 3.3 points (from 108.3 mm Hg to 111.6 mm Hg) among the participants who drank the placebo.
Norepinephrine levels also increased after energy drink consumption. They rose, on average, 100 picograms per milliliter (from 150 pg/mL to 250 pg/mL) compared to an average of 39 pg/mL (from 140 pg/mL to 179 pg/mL) in those who received the placebo.
These increases “may predispose [people] to increased cardiovascular risk,” according to the study’s authors.
This is not the first study to suggest that energy drink consumption may have a negative effect on consumers’ health. In a study conducted by the same research group earlier this year, it was determined that the beverages can raise the blood pressure to potentially unhealthy levels.
However, the researchers cautioned that additional, larger studies are needed to investigate the matter. The new study’s limitations include the small sample size and use of only one brand of energy drink, according to the researchers.
Do I Have an Energy Drink Class Action Lawsuit?
The Pharmaceutical Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in energy drink lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were injured after consuming an energy drink, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a class action suit and our lawyers can help.