Red Bull Study

[WillBrink]

As expected, Red Bull = synthetic sweetener, water + caffeine.


Objective

Consumption of energy drinks is increasing amongst athletes and the general public. By virtue of their bioactive ingredients (including caffeine, taurine, glucuronolactone, and B-group vitamins) and paucity of calories, sugar-free “diet” versions of these drinks could be a useful aid for weight maintenance. Yet little is known about the acute influence of these drinks, and specifically the role of the cocktail of non-caffeine ingredients, on resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate oxidation. Therefore, the metabolic impact of sugar-free Red Bull (sfRB) to a comparable amount of caffeine was compared.

Methods

REE and respiratory quotient (RQ) were measured in eight healthy young men by ventilated-hood indirect calorimetry for 30 min baseline and 2 h following ingestion of 355 ml of either: sfRB + placebo, water + 120 mg caffeine, or water + placebo, according to a randomized cross-over design.

Results

sfRB and water + caffeine both increased REE to the same degree (+4%). Additionally, sfRB briefly increased RQ. Water + caffeine had no effect on RQ relative to water + placebo.

Conclusions

sfRB enhanced thermogenesis and marginally shifted RQ to favor carbohydrate oxidation. The stimulatory effects of sfRB on REE are mimicked by water + caffeine, indicating that the auxiliary ingredients do not influence this thermic effect. The metabolic effects of sfRB are primarily due to caffeine alone.

Source:

The thermic effect of sugar-free Red Bull: Do the non-caffeine bioactive ingredients in energy drinks play a role? - Miles-Chan - 2014 - Obesity - Wiley Online Library

[woods]

I drink it because I like the taste. It has no real effect on my energy level, Hell I can drink one and then take a nap.

[WillBrink]

I drink it because I like the taste. It has no real effect on my energy level, Hell I can drink one and then take a nap.

So it does not give you wings?

[Ryno12]

So it does not give you wings?

Nope, just heartburn.

[jpmuscle]

So it does not give you wings?

I died a little on the inside when I saw the results of said referenced class action suit. True story...

Like you gotta be f'ing kidding me.

[JW5219]

I drink it because I like the taste. It has no real effect on my energy level, Hell I can drink one and then take a nap.

If I drank even a half of one of those, you would be peeling me off of the ceiling!!! No can do.

[Voodoo_Man]

So what its saying is that getting some caffeine pills will do the same if not more?

[WillBrink]

So what its saying is that getting some caffeine pills will do the same if not more?

Indeed. I also like Fein which converts anything I'm drinking into an "energy" drink. See:

What You Need To Know About Caffeine

[Voodoo_Man]

Indeed. I also like Fein which converts anything I'm drinking into an "energy" drink. See:

What You Need To Know About Caffeine

yay, more stuff to buy...

thanks

[dth4lf]

Indeed. I also like Fein which converts anything I'm drinking into an "energy" drink. See:

What You Need To Know About Caffeine

Great write-up, Will. Thanks for sharing that.