I will not drink Red Bull again(ENERGY DRINKS)

Just one can of Red Bull could raise the risk of heart attack or stroke, even in young people, researchers have warned.

A study of university students found drinking one 250ml can of the sugar-free version of the energy drink that 'gives you wings' increased the 'stickiness' of the blood and raised the risk of life-threatening clots.

Researcher Dr Scott Willoughby said: 'One hour after they drank Red Bull, (their blood systems) were no longer normal. 

Health doubts: Sugar-free Red Bull

'They were abnormal like we would expect in a patient with cardiovascular disease.

'If you get an increase in stickiness and a decreased ability of the blood vessels to stop its stickiness, that adds up to a bad situation.

'If you add in other risk factors for cardiovascular disease - stress or high blood pressure - this could be potentially deadly.'

Dr Willoughby, of the Cardiovascular Research Centre at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, said he was 'alarmed' at the results and would not drink Red Bull himself.

Those with underlying heart or circulatory problems should think twice before buying the caffeine-loaded drink, he said.

The results, reported in the Australian newspaper, also shocked the students taking part, some of whom drank up to eight cans a night to help them stay awake to study.  Many now refuse to drink Red Bull again.

Red Bull is banned in Norway, Uruguay and Denmark because of health fears, but the company last year sold 3.5 billion cans and bottles in 143 countries. 

In Britain alone, it has sales of £271 million a year, with much of the cash spent in bars and clubs were it is a popular mixer with vodka and other spirits.

Previous studies have warned the stimulant effect of Red Bull can mask some of the tell-tale signs of drunkenness - putting revellers at risk of injury and attack because they do not realise how intoxicated they are.

Dr Willoughby said drinking Red Bull caused the blood 'to become sticky'

The Australian researchers said that two of the drink's ingredients - caffeine and the amino acid taurine - may have dangerous consequences for the heart when taken together.

Dr Willoughby said: 'Caffeine and taurine - both of these individually point towards being beneficial but maybe there's something quirky about the effect of the combination of the two that is causing this reaction, that is what we need to look at next.'

Formulated by the marketing director of an Austrian toothpaste company in the 1980s, one can contains 80 mg of caffeine, around the same as a cup of filter coffee, or two cups of instant. 

However, cans do carry health warnings advising people not to drink more than two a day.

Red Bull Australia spokeswoman Linda Rychter said: 'The study does not show effects which would go beyond drinking a normal cup of coffee.

She added that Red Bull's global sales were testament to health authorities across the world concluding it was safe to drink.

But Dr Willougby said: 'If you have any predisposition to cardiovascular disease, I'd think twice about drinking it.'