Energy drinks and stimulant supplements tied to heart attacks and cardiac arrests

Preliminary US research has linked energy drinks and stimulant supplements to serious heart problems, including cardiac arrests and heart attacks, with the strongest signal seen among young adults.

Researchers warned that energy drinks have been associated with heart attacks, cardiac arrests and other major cardiovascular issues.

The early study found that caffeinated energy drinks and pre-workout supplements containing stimulants appeared far more often than expected in reports of cardiovascular events, especially among adults aged 18 to 34.

The team examined more than 28,000 adverse-event reports filed with the US Food and Drug Administration from 2017 to 2025.

According to the analysis, cardiac arrest was reported about 11 times more often alongside caffeine- and stimulant-containing products than with products that did not include those ingredients. Reports involving energy drinks and supplements were also about 4.5 times more likely to mention heart attacks.

Other issues were reported more frequently as well. Elevated heart rate was nearly three times as common, chest pain was 2.71 times more common, and fainting was reported roughly twice as often.

The researchers said the results were especially noteworthy because young adults are not usually regarded as being at high risk for severe cardiovascular events.

Sai Samayamanthula, a study author and fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said these products are often sold as ordinary pick-me-ups and placed alongside soda and bottled water, leading many people to assume they are harmless.

He added that for most healthy people, occasional use is probably low risk. But people who use energy drinks or other stimulant supplements regularly may quickly go beyond the recommended daily caffeine limit, making it important to understand that cardiovascular harm is possible.

Most adults are generally advised to keep caffeine intake below 400mg a day, which is about four to five cups of tea or coffee.

Even so, some energy drinks contain as much as three times the caffeine per 30ml as brewed coffee, while some pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much.

The findings are expected to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026.

Dr Gregory M. Marcus, chair of the 2026 American Heart Association, said the research raises concerns that products with very high caffeine levels could be harmful to the cardiovascular system.

He noted that there are biological reasons why such a link could exist, but said the study does not prove caffeine products cause these events because other factors may have influenced the analysis.

Marcus added that more research is needed to determine whether these stimulant products are truly responsible for the heart-related events reported.