1
|
Costantino A, Maiese A, Lazzari J, Casula C, Turillazzi E, Frati P, Fineschi V. The Dark Side of Energy Drinks: A Comprehensive Review of Their Impact on the Human Body. Nutrients 2023; 15:3922. [PMID: 37764707 PMCID: PMC10535526 DOI: 10.3390/nu15183922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the consumption of energy drinks by young adults and athletes has risen significantly, but concerns have been raised about the potential health risks associated with excessive consumption. These concerns include cardiovascular problems, nervous system disorders, and the potential for addiction. This review aims to examine the reported effects of acute or chronic abuse of energy drinks on human health. The analysis shows a significant prevalence of adverse effects, particularly on the cardiovascular and neurovegetative systems. In particular, the analysis identified nine cases of cardiac arrest, three of which were fatal. The aetiology of these adverse effects is attributed to the inherent neurostimulant properties of these beverages, of which caffeine is the predominant component. A comparison of documented effects in humans with experimental studies in animal models showed an overlap in results. This review highlights the need for greater rigour in the assessment of sudden cardiac death, particularly in young people, as legal substances such as energy drinks may be involved. We propose stricter limits on the consumption of these beverages than for caffeine, based on the evidence found and the data in the literature. This review also calls for the establishment of regulations governing the consumption of these products in view of their potential impact on human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Costantino
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.M.); (J.L.); (C.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Aniello Maiese
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.M.); (J.L.); (C.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Julia Lazzari
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.M.); (J.L.); (C.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Chiara Casula
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.M.); (J.L.); (C.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Emanuela Turillazzi
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Care Medicine, University of Pisa, Via Roma, 55, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (A.C.); (A.M.); (J.L.); (C.C.); (E.T.)
| | - Paola Frati
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Vittorio Fineschi
- Institute of Legal Medicine, Department of Anatomical, Histological, Forensic and Orthopedic Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 336, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Wei G, Xie Y, Pei M, Yang J, Yu Y, Cheng Y, Chen B, Guo J, Yang Z, Feng J. A comparative metabolomics study between grain-sized moxibustion and suspended moxibustion on rats with gastric ulcers. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19108. [PMID: 37664739 PMCID: PMC10469062 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Grain-sized moxibustion (GS-Moxi) and suspended moxibustion (S-Moxi) represent the two typical local heat therapies in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and have been extensively used in treating gastric ulcers (GU) in China. However, the difference in biological response between the two moxibustion therapies in treating GU remains unclear. Here we investigated the therapeutic effect and potential mechanistic difference underlying the two moxibustion methods. Ethanol-induced GU model was established and was treated with GS-Moxi or S-Moxi at ST36 and ST21 for 5 days separately. And then, gastric histopathological examination, immunohistochemical staining for repair factors (EGFR, VEGF, Ki67), and 1H NMR-based metabolomics analysis of plasma and stomach of rats were conducted. We found GS-Moxi and S-Moxi effectively alleviated gastric damage and significantly increased the expression of related repair factors. However, S-Moxi corrected aberrant energy metabolism and lipids metabolism in GU rats but had little effect on neurotransmitter-related metabolism, while GS-Moxi regulated energy metabolism and neurotransmitter-related metabolism in GU rats but had no effect on lipids metabolism. We further proposed that the main target of S-Moxi may be liver and vasculature, whereas GS-Moxi specially targeted the stomach via regulating nervous system. This study strongly verified the outstanding gastroprotective effects of moxibustion and enriched our understanding of the varied biological responses triggered by different moxibustion methods.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guhang Wei
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Futian, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yufeng Xie
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Futian, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengran Pei
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Futian, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinlan Yang
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yunjin Yu
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanbin Cheng
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Baohua Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Subsidiary Rehabilitation Hospital, Fuzhou, 350000, Fujian, China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Zongbao Yang
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361102, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Feng
- Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Futian, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Taurine supplementation enhances endurance capacity by delaying blood glucose decline during prolonged exercise in rats. Amino Acids 2022; 54:251-260. [PMID: 35122528 PMCID: PMC8894168 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03110-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Taurine enhances physical performance; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the effect of taurine on the overtime dynamics of blood glucose concentration (BGC) during endurance exercise in rats. Male F344 rats were subjected to transient treadmill exercise until exhaustion following 3 weeks of taurine supplementation or non-supplementation (TAU and CON groups). Every 10 min during exercise, BGC was measured in blood collected through cannulation of the jugular vein. Gluconeogenesis-, lipolysis-, and fatty acid oxidation-related factors in the plasma, liver, and skeletal muscles were also analyzed after 120-min run. Exercise time to exhaustion was significantly longer with taurine supplementation. BGC in the two groups significantly increased by 40 min and gradually and significantly decreased toward the respective exhaustion point. The decline in BGC from the peak at 40 min was significantly slower in the TAU group. The time when the once-increased BGC regressed to the 0-time level was significantly and positively correlated with exercise time until exhaustion. At the 120-min point, where the difference in BGC between the two groups was most significant, plasma free fatty acid concentration and acetyl-carnitine and N-acetyltaurine concentrations in skeletal muscle were significantly higher in the TAU group, whereas glycogen and glucogenic amino acid concentrations and G6Pase activity in the liver were not different between the two groups. Taurine supplementation enhances endurance capacity by delaying the decrease in BGC toward exhaustion through increases of lipolysis in adipose tissues and fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscles during endurance exercise.
Collapse
|
4
|
Pérez-Mañá C, Mateus JA, Díaz-Pellicer P, Díaz-Baggerman A, Pérez M, Pujadas M, Fonseca F, Papaseit E, Pujol J, Langohr K, de la Torre R. Effects of Mixing Energy Drinks With Alcohol on Driving-Related Skills. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 25:13-25. [PMID: 34338762 PMCID: PMC8756085 DOI: 10.1093/ijnp/pyab051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Energy drinks (EDs) reduce sleepiness and fatigue and improve driving performance whereas alcohol does just the opposite. Although it is a trendy combination among young people, the effects of alcohol mixed with EDs on driving performance have been poorly studied. The aim was to assess if there is an interaction between the effects of both drinks on driving-related skills as well as perceptions about driving ability. METHODS We conducted a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled 4-way crossover clinical trial. Participants were 16 healthy volunteers. Interventions of 60 g of ethanol and 750 mL of Red Bull (RB) were administered in 2 separated doses. Conditions were alcohol + RB placebo, alcohol + RB, alcohol placebo + RB, and both placebos. Objective performance was assessed using a tracking test and simple reaction time, N-Back, and movement estimation tasks. Additionally, willingness to drive, other subjective effects, and ethanol and caffeine blood concentrations were also measured. RESULTS Alcohol increased the time outside the road in the tracking test and increased simple reaction time, but the addition of RB had no main or interaction effects on performance. Nonetheless, driving-related skills after alcohol + RB were better than after alcohol alone. Willingness to drive increased with the combination of drinks. RB also reduced alcohol-induced sedation whereas drunkenness did not change. These effects were seen even though alcohol + RB increased alcohol (14.8%) and caffeine plasma concentrations (17.6%). CONCLUSIONS Mixing EDs with alcohol predisposes consumers to drive under alcohol influence, perhaps in part because EDs counteract its detrimental effects on driving-related skills. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02771587.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Pérez-Mañá
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain,Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain,Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain,Correspondence: Clara Pérez-Mañá, MD, PhD, Carretera de Canyet, S/N, 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain ()
| | - Julián Andrés Mateus
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain,Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Patricia Díaz-Pellicer
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Marta Pérez
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mitona Pujadas
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francina Fonseca
- Drug Addiction Unit, Institute of Neuropsychiatry and Addictions (INAD), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Papaseit
- Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol (HUGTP-IGTP), Badalona, Spain,Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Jesús Pujol
- MRI Research Unit, Hospital del Mar, CIBERSAM G21, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Klaus Langohr
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Polytechnic University of Catalonia/BarcelonaTech, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael de la Torre
- Integrative Pharmacology and Systems Neurosciences Research Group, Neurosciences Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain,Pompeu Fabra University (CEXS-UPF), Barcelona, Spain,CIBER de Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Taurine (2-aminoethanesulfonic acid) is widely distributed in animal tissues and has
diverse pharmacological effects. However, the role of taurine in modulating smooth
muscle contractility is still controversial. We propose that taurine (5-80 mM) can
exert bidirectional modulation on the contractility of isolated rat jejunal segments.
Different low and high contractile states were induced in isolated jejunal segments
of rats to observe the effects of taurine and the associated mechanisms. Taurine
induced stimulatory effects on the contractility of isolated rat jejunal segments at
3 different low contractile states, and inhibitory effects at 3 different high
contractile states. Bidirectional modulation was not observed in the presence of
verapamil or tetrodotoxin, suggesting that taurine-induced bidirectional modulation
is Ca2+ dependent and requires the presence of the enteric nervous system.
The stimulatory effects of taurine on the contractility of isolated jejunal segments
was blocked by atropine but not by diphenhydramine or by cimetidine, suggesting that
muscarinic-linked activation was involved in the stimulatory effects when isolated
jejunal segments were in a low contractile state. The inhibitory effects of taurine
on the contractility of isolated jejunal segments were blocked by propranolol and
L-NG-nitroarginine but not by phentolamine, suggesting that adrenergic β receptors
and a nitric oxide relaxing mechanism were involved when isolated jejunal segments
were in high contractile states. No bidirectional effects of taurine on myosin
phosphorylation were observed. The contractile states of jejunal segments determine
taurine-induced stimulatory or inhibitory effects, which are associated with
muscarinic receptors and adrenergic β receptors, and a nitric oxide associated
relaxing mechanism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Q Y Yao
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - D P Chen
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - D M Ye
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Y P Diao
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Y Lin
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Monteiro KM, Spindola HM, Possenti A, Tinti SV, Ruiz AL, Longato GB, Fiorito GF, Marchetti GM, Shiozawa L, Piloni BU, de Oliveira AC, Miyagawa LM, Carvalho JE. Characterization of a refinement of the “pylorus ligation” model of rat gastric ulceration resulting in “no pain” and a more specific pharmacological response. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2013; 67:121-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2012.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|