Energy drinks consumption linked to substantial and detrimental implications for diabetics

Nigeria: The popularity of energy drinks are rising every year, specifically among young adults such as college students, despite studies showing their harmful impact on health.

A recent study, published in Discoveries journal has shed light on the impact of short-term energy drink consumption on apolipoprotein B, plasma glucose, pulse rate, and body mass index (BMI) among students. 

Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ogbodo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, and colleagues showed that consumption of energy drinks causes significant alterations in pulse rate, BMI, apolipoprotein B, and plasma glucose levels which may have important clinical consequences for energy drink consumers.

They suggested that public should be educated on the effects of energy drink intake on human health, specifically in the case of people with diabetes. They added that if it is impossible to avoid  energy drinks consumption, they should be used in moderation. More research into the impact of energy drinks on cardiometabolic functions should be conducted in order to better understand and unravel the mechanism behind the current findings presented in this study

The research team chose two representative types of energy drinks in Nigeria, namely predator and fearless in order to test the effect of energy drink consumption on triglyceride, serum apolipoproteins, and plasma glucose levels in students. These energy drinks are brand names of non-alcoholic beverages aimed to provide energy. 

The study included 30 students who were apparently healthy male human subjects aged 18 to 30 years and gave informed consent to the research work. They were randomly selected and divided into two groups: Group A (fearless energy drink consumers, n=15) and Group B (predator energy drink consumers, n=15). 

The study found significant reductions in BMI and Apolipoprotein B, and significant increases in plasma glucose levels, but apolipoprotein A1 and triglyceride levels remained identical before and after one month of fearless and predator energy drink use. 

"After one month, the consumption of fearless energy drink led to a considerable reduction in pulse rate," the researchers wrote. "As a result, while short-term intake of predator and fearless energy drinks may have good impacts on cardiovascular health, it may have substantial and detrimental implications for diabetics."

"More research should be conducted into the impact of energy drinks on cardiometabolic functions in order to better understand and unravel the mechanism behind the current findings presented in this study," they concluded. 

Reference:

Iheanacho, Munachimso Mariasonia, et al. "Short-term Energy Drink Consumption Influences Plasma Glucose, Apolipoprotein B, Body Mass Index and Pulse Rate Among Students." Discoveries (Craiova, Romania), vol. 10, no. 4, 2022, pp. e159.