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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Microfluidics in Assessing Platelet Function
Published on: November 8, 2024
Detrimental effects of energy drink consumption on platelet and endothelial function
Matthew I Worthley1, Anisha Prabhu, Paolo De Sciscio
1Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Centre, Royal Adelaide Hospital, and Disciplines of Physiology and Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.
Insights
Energy drinks acutely impair blood vessel function and increase blood clot risk in healthy young adults. This study shows energy drink consumption negatively affects platelet aggregation and endothelial function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Human Physiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Energy drink consumption is anecdotally linked to cardiac events like sudden cardiac death and myocardial infarction.
- Myocardial infarction is strongly associated with platelet and endothelial dysfunction, prompting this investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that energy drink consumption alters platelet and endothelial function.
- To investigate the acute effects of energy drinks on cardiovascular markers in healthy adults.
Main Methods:
- Fifty healthy volunteers consumed 250 mL of a sugar-free energy drink.
- Platelet aggregation was measured using adenosine diphosphate-induced optical aggregometry.
- Endothelial function was assessed via peripheral arterial tonometry, measuring the reactive hyperemia index (RHI).
Main Results:
- Energy drink consumption significantly increased platelet aggregation compared to a control.
- A significant decrease in the reactive hyperemia index (RHI) was observed post-consumption, indicating impaired endothelial function.
- Mean arterial pressure increased, while heart rate remained unaffected.
Conclusions:
- Energy drink consumption acutely increases platelet aggregation in healthy young adults.
- Energy drink consumption acutely decreases endothelial function in healthy young adults.
- These findings suggest a potential mechanism linking energy drink intake to adverse cardiovascular events.
Background:
Energy drink consumption has been anecdotally linked with sudden cardiac death and, more recently, myocardial infarction. As myocardial infarction is strongly associated with both platelet and endothelial dysfunction, we tested the hypothesis that energy drink consumption alters platelet and endothelial function.
Methods:
Fifty healthy volunteers (34 male, aged 22+/-2 years) participated in the study. Platelet aggregation and endothelial function were tested before, and 1 hour after, the consumption of 250 mL (1 can) of a sugar-free energy drink. Platelet function was assessed by adenosine diphosphate-induced (1 micromol/L) optical aggregometry in platelet-rich plasma. Endothelial function was assessed via changes in peripheral arterial tonometry and expressed as the reactive hyperemia index (RHI).
Results:
Compared with baseline values, there was a significant increase in platelet aggregation following energy drink consumption, while no change was observed with control (13.7+/-3.7% vs 0.3+/-0.8% aggregation, respectively, P <.01). Similarly, RHI decreased following energy drink consumption (-0.33+/-0.13 vs 0.07+/-0.12 RHI [control], P <.05). Mean arterial pressure significantly increased following energy drink consumption, compared with control (P <.05). Heart rate was unaffected by energy drink consumption.
Conclusion:
Energy drink consumption acutely increases platelet aggregation and decreases endothelial function in healthy young adults.
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