A study has warned that energy drinks may carry bad news regarding the risk of blood clots. Blood clots are a double-edged sword; they can be beneficial when jelly-like masses are stimulated in response to bleeding. However, not all clots should be welcomed. Blood clots that form in the veins, known as deep vein thrombosis, can be dangerous. The jelly-like masses in your veins can dislodge, travel through the bloodstream, and lodge elsewhere, increasing your risk of serious health issues.
The study published in the Journal of Surgical Research found that sugar-free energy drinks could trigger dangerous processes that lay the groundwork for blood clots. The research team noted that these popular beverages have been linked to a range of cardiovascular complications, such as arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and even "sudden cardiac death."
With this in mind, scientists hypothesized that energy drinks could increase the risk of cardiovascular issues by enhancing platelet aggregation, which refers to how well platelets clump together to form blood clots. They studied 32 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 40 years. Participants were given bottles of water and sugar-free energy drinks on two separate occasions, a week apart, after fasting overnight for 30 minutes.
Researchers then measured blood coagulation factors and platelet function before and after 60 minutes of consuming the drinks. There were no statistically significant differences in coagulation. However, the consumption of energy drinks resulted in a significant increase in platelet aggregation compared to bottled water. The researchers wrote that this "increased" platelet activity occurred within "one hour of consumption."
The researchers concluded that "although larger clinical studies are needed to address safety and health concerns regarding these drinks, the increased platelet response may provide a mechanism by which energy drinks elevate the risk of harmful cardiovascular events."
