The Combined Effects of Niacin and Caffeine in Doses Common in Energy Drinks on the Vasoactivity of Porcine Coronary Arteries.

Presentation Type

Poster/Portfolio

Presenter Major(s)

Biomedical Sciences, Biology

Mentor Information

Francis Sylvester, sylvestf@gvsu.edu

Department

Biomedical Sciences

Location

Henry Hall Atrium 56

Start Date

13-4-2011 12:00 PM

End Date

13-4-2011 1:00 PM

Keywords

Health and Wellness, Health, Illness, and Healing, Life Science

Abstract

Caffeine, a known vasoconstrictor, is an almost universal ingredient in energy drinks. While the effects of caffeine on blood vessels have been studied in depth, little is known about the vasoactivity of many of the other, less common ingredients found in energy drinks, which are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this ring study using porcine coronary arteries, the effects of niacin (Vitamin B3), will be studied both singularly, and in conjunction with caffeine. Niacin is reported to cause flushing of the skin when taken in high doses, suggesting that it is a vasodilator. If this is the case, its effect would be opposite to that of caffeine. With both of these ingredients present in many popular energy drinks, it is the purpose of this study to determine which plays a more dominant role in the vasoactivity of blood vessles when ingested.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS
 
Apr 13th, 12:00 PM Apr 13th, 1:00 PM

The Combined Effects of Niacin and Caffeine in Doses Common in Energy Drinks on the Vasoactivity of Porcine Coronary Arteries.

Henry Hall Atrium 56

Caffeine, a known vasoconstrictor, is an almost universal ingredient in energy drinks. While the effects of caffeine on blood vessels have been studied in depth, little is known about the vasoactivity of many of the other, less common ingredients found in energy drinks, which are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In this ring study using porcine coronary arteries, the effects of niacin (Vitamin B3), will be studied both singularly, and in conjunction with caffeine. Niacin is reported to cause flushing of the skin when taken in high doses, suggesting that it is a vasodilator. If this is the case, its effect would be opposite to that of caffeine. With both of these ingredients present in many popular energy drinks, it is the purpose of this study to determine which plays a more dominant role in the vasoactivity of blood vessles when ingested.