gms | German Medical Science

Multi-components drinks have been widely used. Energy drink contained several ingredients; e.g.taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine and some B vitamins. Taurine has been found to produce electrical and mechanical actions on cardiac muscle cells. Caffeine has a dose dependent arrhythmogenic effect on heart. The aim of this study is to evaluate the cardiac electrophysiological effect of energy drink (Red Bull) on QT duration and dispersion.

Methods: Twenty healthy volunteers were included the study. People were excluded if they had a cardiac rhythm except sinus rhythm, history of atrial or ventricular arrhythmia, family history of premature sudden cardiac death, A baseline ECG was performed. After that a single dose (250cc) energy drink (Red Bull) were made to drink all participants. Two hours later second ECG was performed. All ECG’s were numbered and were transferred to a personnel computer via a scanner. QT and RR intervals were measured by two different persons (person A and person B) using for magnification of 400 times by Adobe Photoshop software. Longest QT (QTmax) and shortest QT (QTmin) durations was determined and QT dispersion (QTdisp) was calculated. Corrected QT dispersion (QTc ) were calculated according to Basett’s formula. Baseline and two hours later after drinking measurements were compared.

Results: QTmax, QTmin and QTdisp are similar before and after drinking of Red Bull in measurements of Person A (379±21 versus 380±20 p=0,858, 321±21 versus 323±21 p=0,711 and 58±12 versus 57±22 p= 0,785, respectively). QTmax, QTmin and QTdisp are similar in measurements of Person B (377±27 versus 377±23 p=0,897, 317±27 versus 316±23 p=0,843 and 60±22 versus 61±18 p= 0,919, respectively). QTcmax, QTcmin and QTcdisp are similar before and after drinking of Red Bull in measurements of two of the persons.

Conclusion: A single dose Red Bull energy drink does not change QT intervals and dispersion in healthy population.