The Effects of an Energy Drink on Psychomotor Vigilance in Trained Individuals

Antonio Antonio,Roberts Roberts,Ellerbroek Ellerbroek,Jiannine Jiannine,Horn Horn,Tartar Tartar,Carson Carson,Kenyon Kenyon,Peacock Peacock

doi:10.3390/jfmk4030047

Antonio Antonio, Roberts Roberts + Show 7 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk4030047

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Abstract

The psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) measures one’s behavioral alertness. It is a visual test that involves measuring the speed at which a person reacts to visual stimuli over a fixed time frame (e.g., 5 min). The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of an energy drink on psychomotor vigilance as well as a simple measure of muscular endurance (i.e., push-ups). A total of 20 exercise-trained men (n = 11) and women (n = 9) (mean ± SD: age 32 ± 7 years; height 169 ± 10 cm; weight; 74.5 ± 14.5 kg; percent body fat 20.3 ± 6.2%; years of training 14 ± 9; daily caffeine intake 463 ± 510 mg) volunteered for this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. In a randomized counterbalanced order, they consumed either the energy drink (ED) (product: BANG®, Weston Florida) or a similar tasting placebo drink (PL). In the second visit after a 1-week washout period, they consumed the alternate drink. A full 30 min post-consumption, they performed the following tests in this order: a 5-min psychomotor vigilance test, three sets of push-ups, followed once more by a 5-min psychomotor vigilance test. Reaction time was recorded. For the psychomotor vigilance test, lapses, false starts and efficiency score are also assessed. There were no differences between groups for the number of push-ups that were performed or the number of false starts during the psychomotor vigilance test. However, the ED treatment resulted in a significantly lower (i.e., faster) psychomotor vigilance mean reaction time compared to the PL (p = 0.0220) (ED 473.8 ± 42.0 milliseconds, PL 482.4 ± 54.0 milliseconds). There was a trend for the ED to lower the number of lapses (i.e., reaction time > 500 milliseconds) (p = 0.0608). The acute consumption of a commercially available ED produced a significant improvement in psychomotor vigilance in exercise-trained men and women.

Highlights

Several investigations have assessed the potential ergogenic effects of energy drinks with some showing benefits and others showing neutral effects [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]
It was hypothesized that improvements in both psychomotor vigilance and push-up performance would result from energy drink consumption when compared to a placebo
The current investigation found that the acute consumption of a caffeine-containing energy drink (ED) (i.e., BANG energy drink) significantly improved reaction times of the psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) test in exercise-trained men and women; the investigation found no effect on muscular endurance

Summary

Introduction

Several investigations have assessed the potential ergogenic effects of energy drinks with some showing benefits and others showing neutral effects [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. In a study of six male and six female trained cyclists, consuming Red Bull Energy Drink, they improved performance during a 1-hour cycling time trial. There was no effect of Red Bull consumption on ratings of perceived exertion [6]. To date there are no studies that have examined the effects of caffeine-containing energy drinks on psychomotor vigilance. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the effects of an energy drink (BANG®) on psychomotor vigilance as well as push-up performance. It was hypothesized that improvements in both psychomotor vigilance and push-up performance would result from energy drink consumption when compared to a placebo

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