Energy drink’s ‘buzz’ claims just bull, say scientists

RED BULL does not give you wings in the way that many people believe, scientists revealed yesterday.

A controlled study in which volunteers were given the energy drink found no evidence of any improvement in physical performance.

Nor did the drink prolong the “buzz” of alcohol while reducing its depressive effects.

The research by a team of Brazilian scientists followed a study into the effects of energy drinks among a group of 136 nightclub revellers.

Most of them combined the drinks with alcohol in order to alter the effects of alcoholic drinks. They believed beverages such as Red Bull boosted the stimulant or lowered the depressive effect of alcohol.

The main effects of mixing energy drinks with alcohol were happiness, euphoria, being extrovert and increased vigour. As a result of the survey, the researchers decided to carry out a controlled study of 14 healthy male volunteers.

Each completed four sessions during which they were given water, alcohol, Red Bull, or alcohol plus Red Bull before a cycling endurance test.

The test lasted until either a maximum heart rate was reached or the volunteer asked to stop.

An hour after the test, the researchers measured physiological indicators including heart rate and blood pressure, biochemical variables such as glucose, hormones and lactate, and blood alcohol.

The results showed that Red Bull combined with alcohol did not improve performance or influence the biological effects of alcohol.

Professor Maria Lucia Souza Formigoni, from the Federal University of Sao Paulo, who led the research, said: “I think the main message of our study is that this kind of beverage, at least in the tested doses, does not increase people’s performance in physical activities or reduce alterations induced by acute alcohol ingestion.”

The findings were reported in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.

Maristela Monteiro, the regional adviser on alcohol and substance abuse for the Pan American Health Organisation, said young people should be careful when combining energy drinks and alcohol until more evidence was available on their effects.