1. Energy Drinks
By
Lee Cherry, BS
CPT, CSCS, HFS, USA Weightlifting
www.inhome-personaltrainer.com

2. Testing High Energy Drinks
• They are popular across many age groups and sometimes
used in athletics for a performance boost.
– Heavily marketed to younger athletes as a performance
enhancing substance and weightloss aide
• Most beverages in this category include similar ingredients:
– Hefty doses of caffeine and sugar, some B-vitamins, and a
sprinkle of amino acids.
• This particular study tested Red Bull, the self-described
original drink in this category.
– Red Bull contains
taurine, glucoronolactone, caffeine, niacin, vitamin B-
6, pantothenic acid, vitamin B-12, sucrose, and glucose.

3. Study
• The purpose of this study
– “The Effects of a Commercial Energy Drink on Repeated High Intensity
Anaerobic Cycling Performance”
• Was conducted to measure the effects of Red Bull on anaerobic cycling
performance.
– Published by Stefan M. Pasiakos, Robert Petrancosta, John Wygand, and Robert M. Otto)
• Methodology
– The study was a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover trial in
which 13 male subjects participated.
– Trials consisted of a modified Wingate Anaerobic Power Test after
consumption of either Red Bull or a Red Bull-flavored placebo drink.
– The Wingate Anaerobic Power Test used in this trial consisted of six
bouts of 15-second supra-maximal cycling with a load equal to 0.1
kg/body weight with 45 seconds of recovery time between bouts.
– The data from this test can be extrapolated to other high intensity
sports, such as sprinting, basketball, and soccer.

4. Results
• The results showed that some of the resting
metabolic variables.
• Including heart rate and respiratory exchange
ratio, were significantly higher in the group that
consumed Red Bull vs. the placebo group.
• In addition, exercising heart rate and lactate
levels were significantly higher in the
experimental vs. the placebo group.
• There were no significant differences
seen, however, in repeated anaerobic cycling
performance in the two groups.

5. Take Home Message
• Take home message:
– Considering there were NO differences in
performance outcomes, it is recommended that
athletes not rely on Red Bull or similar energy
drinks when looking for performance assistance.
– Because such drinks raise athletes heart rates and
respiratory exchange ratios, they should especially
be avoided by athletes exercising in extreme heat.

6. Caffeine and Performance
• Caffeine is a known ergogenic aid. Research supports
this finding.
• It has been shown through numerous studies to
enhance endurance performance and increase mental
focus.
• The following study, The Effects of Caffeine on Athletic
Agility:
– by Andrew J. Lorino, Lisa K. Lloyd, Sylvia H. Crixell, John L.
Walker, and Jack W. Ransone)
• The study was conducted to examine whether caffeine
also has an effect on athletic agility and, therefore, on
overall anaerobic performance.

7. Study
• Sixteen adult men performed two trials of two drills
with two to three days of rest in between.
• They participated in a:
– Pro-agility run test to measure agility) and a…
– 30-second Wingate test (to measure anaerobic power).
• Subjects were not blinded for this study.
• They all received six mg of caffeine per kg of body
weight before one of the testing days, and a placebo
on the other.
• The order in which they received the supplement was
randomized.

8. Findings
• The researchers found no significant differences
between either the placebo or caffeine trials in
either of the outcome measurements.
• They suggested a number of possible limitations
to this study, however.
– The caffeine dosage may have been too low,
– Habitual caffeine use by some of the athletes may
have hindered the results, and…
– Training status of subjects could have influenced the
results.

9. Take Home Message
• Caffeine does work for many outcome
parameters, but this study did not prove it affects
agility and anaerobic performance.
• Most researchers suggest that athletes be very
careful before using caffeine as an ergogenic
aid, and this study reiterates that view.
– Study was published in the May 2005 issue of
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the
official journal of the ACSM. It can be accessed at:
www.ms-se.com.

10. Energy Drinks Available on Today’s
Market
• A Few Popular Brands
– Red Bull
– Monster
– NOS
– Rock Star
• Click Here For an “Extensive” List of High
Energy Drinks