A Swedish research team (Messner, Öström, Wiklund, Holmberg) has sent out a pressrelease concerning a study addressing the effects of consuming of energy drinks and alcohol in combination with physical exercise.
The drinks contain taurin, caffeine and carbohydrates among other ingredients. The authors draw the conclusion that until further studies are available caution should be exercised if combining intake of energy drinks and alcohol with physical exertion.
The advice given by the National Food Administration is still valid, i.e. that the energy drinks are not suitable as thirst quenchers, or as rehydrants during physical exercise, and that they should not be combined with alcohol.
The newly reported study is very small and pinpoints the need of further research in this area.
Comments from the NFA on information on ‘energy drinks’
The results of the study by Messner and co-workers show a possible interaction between the ingredients in energy drinks, alcohol intake and physical exertion.
The study, which was performed on 10 healthy subjects, indicated that combining intake of energy drinks and alcohol with physical exertion gave rise to a temporary reduction in heart rhythm variability of the subjects included in the study. It should however be emphasised that the study is very small, and that definitive conclusions may not be drawn. The influence of several parameters needs to be clarified. Further research in the area is warranted.