The analysis reviewed more than 28,000 adverse event reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over a span of eight years. The findings have not been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The research is based on voluntary reports submitted to the FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS), which is maintained by the aforementioned center. The CAERS database – distinct from the more familiar Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System – which allows health care providers, patients and caregivers to report adverse events they believe are linked to foods, dietary supplements and cosmetic products.
The study adds to a growing body of research examining the cardiovascular effects of energy drinks, which are marketed as products that temporarily boost energy, concentration and physical performance. A review published in Frontiers in Public Health linked energy drink consumption to a range of adverse health consequences, including cardiovascular effects and metabolic disorders [2].
What the Study Found
Adults ages 18 to 34 made up almost half of the reports, even though that age group is typically at low risk for heart problems, the research showed. The findings are consistent with earlier research.
A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that caffeinated energy drinks increased the risk of abnormal heart rhythms and raised blood pressure levels. Researchers from the University of the Pacific in California found that the interaction of common ingredients in energy drinks significantly affected cardiovascular factors such as heart rate, QT interval, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure [3].
Limits of the Data
The reports were submitted to the FDA's CAERS database. The presence of an adverse event report does not mean the FDA has determined that the product caused the event.
Despite these limitations, the volume of reports involving cardiac events in young adults is notable. The research was presented at the American Heart Association's annual meeting, where preliminary findings are often shared before peer review.
Reactions and Context
Parents and medical groups have raised concerns about energy drinks and high-caffeine products. Separate research has also linked energy drink consumption to cardiac arrhythmias in patients with genetic heart disease.
A report by NBC News in April touched on the death of a 17-year-old female cheerleader in Texas. The teenager's family sued a distributor of a popular energy drink for wrongful death, alleging that the girl died from an enlarged heart caused by consuming large amounts of caffeine [1].
Safety Guidance and Takeaways
The research adds to a body of evidence suggesting that energy drinks can affect the cardiovascular system. For young adults, the latest findings suggest that the stimulant content of these products warrants attention, even as the authors stop short of establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
References
- Energy drinks linked to higher risk of cardiac arrest in young adults, study finds. https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/energy-drinks-linked-higher-risk-cardiac-arrest-young-adults-study-fin-rcna606546
- You should cut back on energy drinks - they can give you heart problems - NaturalNews.com, April 03, 2020.
- Potent combo_ Study explains interaction of ingredients behind the effect of energy drinks on heart rhythm - NaturalNews.com, March 07, 2020.
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