HOLO Labs

Abstract

The energy drink industry has quickly become one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, with a projected global market cap of $108.4 billion by 2031 (Aniket and Roshan, 2022). This growth, however, lacks appropriate research and data collection concerning certain systemic health effects on the consumer (Breda et al., 2014). The implications of caffeine on cardiac health have been heavily elucidated in previous studies (Ming Ding et al., 2013). Additionally, another prominent ingredient, taurine, and its systemic effects have also been examined in current literature. It is suggested to be anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic, thus being cardioprotective (Kurtz et al., 2022). Energy drinks often combine caffeine, taurine, and a multitude of other natural supplements and ingredients to improve energy-supplying effects. Recent studies suggest that caffeine in combination with other ingredients in beverages is associated with lengthened QT intervals and increased systolic blood pressures (Fletcher et. al, 2017). There is little to no current information on the synergistic effect of taurine and caffeine when consumed together, though this mixture is one of the most sold when compared to the individual ingredients alone. The few studies that have explored energy drinks in their combined form, rather than their components, demonstrate ST elevations, arrhythmias, and QT prolongation among the subjects (Goldfarb et al., 2013). Furthermore, a data gap has been noted in the current literature; the ramifications of the synergy between energy-supplying ingredients such as caffeine, taurine, and guarana warrant further investigation (Fletcher et al., 2017). Most of these studies fail to observe one of the more sensitive measures of cardiac ischemia, troponins. Troponins are routinely used to diagnose ischemic disease within the myocardium, such as acute coronary syndrome (Skeik and Patel, 2007). Troponins would provide a novel analysis of the potential acute myocardial changes following administration of an energy drink. Sensitive troponins specifically would detect minute troponin changes even within a healthy population (Mahajan and Jarolim, 2011). With the rapidly increasing consumption of these beverages by a relatively healthy and young population, the need to better understand the short and long-term cardiac effects has become more pressing. The goal of this study is to fill the identified knowledge gap via a survey of a medical student population for energy drink consumption containing both caffeine and taurine juxtaposed by a caffeinated taurine-free control group. These participants will be examined for acute cardiac changes using sensitive troponin measurements upon consumption of an energy drink containing both caffeine and taurine. Participants will be subjected to a single blood draw within a two-hour window of consuming the drink falling within the time frame of initial elevation of troponin levels. This will take place at a contracted laboratory service provider to eliminate risk. Results will be provided from the contractor to the student researchers elucidating potential changes in blood troponin levels.

References

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