Investigation of REDBULL Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Investigation of REDBULL - Research Paper Example caffeine and glucose on the cognitive and cardiovascular performances of students during a two hour long lecture. An interventional study was conducted to test whether stimulation (caffeine, caffeine + glucose, glucose drink) can effect physiological and cognitive changes in an individual within a controlled environment amongst 16 students. The participants were required to fill out a lifestyle questionnaire after which their cardiovascular parameters (i.e. heart rate and MAP) and cognitive performance (via a reaction time test) were assessed. Subsequently, they were asked to consume a 250 ml drink on 7 different occasions, from a selection of the following beverages: water, red bull, red bull with no added sugar and soft drink. The participants were then asked to wear an ambulatory device during a 2 hour lecture which was set to read their heart rate and blood pressure every 30 min. At the end of the 2 hour lecture, the participants were required to undertake a repeat reaction time test. ... Thus, it can be concluded that the consumption of Energy Drinks results in an improvement in cardiovascular and cognitive performance and both the glucose and the caffeine component have a contributory role in the improvement of these parameters. Introduction: Over the last few decades, there has been a witnessed increase in popularity of diet/health food and other food fads, and a concurrent rise in the popularity and demand for functional foods, an example of which are energy drinks, such as Red Bull (Smit et al., 2004; Finnegan, 2003). Energy Drinks are categorized as â€Å"stimulant drinks,† which have been defined by the Stimulant Drinks Committee as ‘a beverage which typically contains caffeine, taurine and vitamin(s) and may contain an energy source (e.g. carbohydrate) and/or other substance(s), marketed for the specific purpose of providing real or perceived enhanced physiological and/or performance effects (Stimulant Drinks Committee, 2003, p. iv).’ The m anufacturers of Energy Drinks claim that such drinks enhance both mental and physical functions, resulting in improved physical endurance, increased alertness and concentration, augmented reaction speed and an elevated mood (Kim, 2003; Kaminer, 2010). â€Å"Energy Drinks† are so called because they are thought to be stimulant in nature, providing the consumers with an instant boost of energy and alertness and decreasing lethargy and sleepiness, have been present in the global market in their current guise from the late nineties, but under the banner stimulant drinks, these have been sold and marketed for many years, and have been gaining widespread fame ever since (Kim, 2003). For example, Lucozade, a UK branded energy