STUDY LINKS ENERGY DRINKS TO CARDIAC ARRESTS IN YOUNG ADULTS

Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago has linked caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant supplements to cardiac arrest and heart attacks, particularly among adults aged 18 to 34. The analysis found the products appeared disproportionately often in US Food and Drug Administration reports. Healthcare professionals have separately reported cases of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in young adults with no known heart disease risk factors who had consumed the products. The study was led by Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville.

Sales of caffeinated energy drinks have more than doubled over the past decade, reaching more than $20 billion in 2024, according to the research. Some energy drinks contain up to three times as much caffeine per fluid ounce as brewed coffee, while some pre-workout supplements contain more than twelve times as much. An American Heart Association statement issued this year says up to 400mg of caffeine a day, equivalent to around five cups of black coffee, is generally safe for most adults. The FDA regulates energy drinks and stimulant supplements as foods or dietary supplements rather than medications, avoiding the premarket safety testing required for medicines.

Samayamanthula said: "These products are marketed as everyday pick-me-ups and sold next to soda and bottled water, so most people assume they carry no real risk." Samayamanthula added: "For many healthy people, if these products are consumed occasionally, the risk is probably small." The findings have not been peer-reviewed and are described as preliminary. Research on energy drinks and stimulant supplements remains limited, but available evidence links high doses of caffeine to cardiovascular harm.