Energy drinks may damage the heart, researchers warn—should the FDA get involved?
Drinking certain energy drinks may cause significant damage to the heart, according to new findings published in Food and Chemical Toxicology.
“Because the consumption of these beverages is not regulated and they are widely accessible over the counter to all age groups, the potential for adverse health effects of these products is a subject of concern and needed research,” lead researcher Ivan Rusyn, MD, PhD, a professor at Texas A&M University in College Station, said in a prepared statement.
Rusyn et al. assessed a total of 17 popular energy drinks, studying their chemical profiles and looking for any associations with potential cardiac complications. Energy drinks sold by Adrenaline, Shoc, Bang Star, C4, CELSIUS, HEAT, EBOOST, Game Fuel, GURU, Kill Cliff, Kickstart, Monster Energy, Red Bull, Reign, Rockstar, RUNA, UPTIME, Venom Energy and Xyience Energy were all part of the team’s analysis.
Overall, the authors found that stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes—human heart cells grown in a laboratory—showed signs of an increased beat rate after being exposed to some energy drinks. Also, theophylline, adenine and azelate were all ingredients the team associated with potentially contributing to QT prolongation in cardiomyocytes.
“This study shows that some of the tested energy drinks may have effects on human cardiomyocytes, and these data corroborate other studies in humans,” Rusyn said in the same statement. “Therefore, we hope that the consumers will carefully weigh the performance-enhancing benefits of these beverages versus the emerging data that suggests that they may have real adverse effects.”
Rusyn also suggested the FDA may want to examine this issue at length, saying energy drinks “may need to be carefully reviewed with respect to possible labeling of their adverse health effects.”
The EPA helped fund the analysis.
The full study is available here.
Michael has more than 18 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.