Research Links Energy Drinks to Increased Cardiac Arrest Risk in Young Adults

Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 indicates that caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant supplements are linked to a disproportionate number of serious cardiovascular events in FDA reports.

Study Findings

Researchers analyzed 28,345 adverse-event reports submitted to an FDA safety database between 2017 and 2025. The study compared 854 reports involving caffeine or stimulant-containing energy drinks and dietary supplements against 27,491 reports involving products without those ingredients.

According to the research, the following associations were found in the reports:

• Cardiac arrest was reported approximately 11 times more often in connection with caffeine- and stimulant-containing products.
• Heart attacks were about 4.5 times more likely to be reported in connection with these products.
• Ventricular arrhythmias or heart palpitations were reported about four times more frequently.
• Elevated heart rate was reported nearly 3 times more often.
• Chest pain was reported 2.71 times more often.
• Fainting was reported about 2 times more often.

Approximately 45% of the reports linking these products to cardiovascular events involved adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

Context and Limitations

While the study identifies an association, the authors emphasized that the results do not prove that these products directly cause heart conditions. The analysis relied on voluntary reports from consumers, doctors, and manufacturers, meaning it is unknown how many people consumed the products without adverse effects or how many cardiac events went unreported.

“Although there are biological reasons why that connection could be possible, the study does not prove that caffeine products cause these events, because other factors may have influenced the results found in this analysis,” said Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, who was not involved in the study.

Sales of caffeinated energy drinks reached over $20 billion in 2024. While a 2026 American Heart Association Scientific Statement notes that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally safe for most adults, some energy drinks contain up to 3 times more caffeine per fluid ounce than brewed coffee, and some pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much.

Why it matters

Researchers noted that the high frequency of reports among young adults may be due to frequent consumption, use before intense exercise, mixing products with alcohol or drugs, or undiagnosed heart conditions. Study author Sai Samayamanthula, a medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, noted, “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.”

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Sources

• newsroom.heart.org: Energy drinks, stimulant products linked to cardiac arrest, heart attack in young adults | American Heart Association
• healthandme.com: Energy Drinks Linked To More Heart Problems In Young Adults: Study Flags Cardiac Risks | Health and Me

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