AdelaideNow... Energy drinks' heart risk
JUST one energy drink can cause "serious heart conditions", a world-first South Australian study has found.
The report has prompted Australian Medical Association state president Dr Andrew Lavender to warn people to limit their consumption of energy drinks to one a day until further urgent research into long-term consumption of the drinks is complete.
The study by the University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital and Cardiovascular Research Centre were published during the week in the prestigious American Journal of Medicine.
It found "common energy drinks do trigger significant changes, including a rise in blood pressure, increased stickiness of blood and decreased blood vessel function".
Report author and Physiology Senior Research Officer Dr Scott Willoughby said: "These measures could potentially lead to serious heart conditions in otherwise fit and healthy individuals."
Energy drinks are designed to increase stamina and improve physical performance
The revelations would lead to further research into the relationship between the popular drinks - which have been linked anecdotally with sudden cardiac deaths - and heart disease, Dr Willoughby said.
"Given the prolific use of these drinks within the young population, further research . . . is urgently needed," he said. Energy drinks sales in Australia are worth $550 million annually.
Main ingredients are caffeine and taurine while some new drinks contain opium poppy seed extract or ephedrine.
Accounts clerk Lauren Byrne, 19, from Goodwood, said she was surprised at the study findings but it would not stop her buying energy drinks because she only had about one a month.
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