Chronic high consumption of energy drinks and cardiovascular risk in adolescents-results of the EDKAR-study.

In recent years, acute cardiovascular effects of high energy drink (ED) consumption have been described, but no data are available on chronic high consumption of EDs and cardiovascular risk in adolescents. As a first study, the present study investigated differences in a variety of cardiological parameters in adolescents (aged 15-18 years) with a chronic high consumption of EDs (ED consumption: ≥ four days/week for ≥ last 12 months, > 3 mg caffeine from EDs/kg bodyweight/day) compared to a control group. In study phase 1 of the cross-sectional EDKAR-study, data from 5100 pupils in Berlin (Germany) on their ED consumption and lifestyle factors were assessed using an online questionnaire. Based on these, adolescents with a chronic high ED consumption (n = 97) and a control group (n = 160) were cardiologically examined at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Blood pressure, heart rate, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters were assessed. Cardiological risk factors like educational background, smoking, alcohol consumption and sleep duration were investigated. The study noticed no significant and/or clinically relevant differences in any of the cardiological parameters e.g., heart rate (Chronic high ED consumption: Geometric mean (95%-CI): 74.8 BPM (68.5-81.8) vs. control group: 71.9 BPM (65.2-79.2), p = 0.23). However, half of the high consumers reported having experienced adverse effects after consuming EDs. Furthermore, adolescents with chronic high ED consumption reported a considerably higher intake of alcohol, higher smoking rates and shorter sleep duration in comparison to the control group. Accordingly, chronic high ED consumption is associated with lifestyle factors with a potential negative impact on the cardiovascular system.