Özde C, et al. – Via performing a trial involving 54 healthy young adults, researchers determined the acute impact of Red Bull energy drink (ED) intake on atrial electromechanical conduction times. Participants were asked to consume 330 mL of Red Bull ED after 12-hour fasting. At baseline and 2-hour following Red Bull ED ingestion, measurements of atrial electromechanical coupling (PA), intra-atrial electromechanical delay (intra-AEMD), and inter-atrial electromechanical delay (inter-AEMD) were obtained by means of echocardiographic tissue-Doppler imaging method. The investigators noted that Red Bull ED ingestion was followed by a statistically significant prolongation in PA-lateral and PA-septal times. A statistically significant rise in the duration of inter-AEMD was also evident following ED ingestion. They concluded that an acute rise in atrial electromechanical conduction times can be seen in relation to the consumption of even a single can of ED in young adults. These revelations may be the cause of ED-related atrial fibrillation, according to the authors.