New research indicates that there is a link between the consumption of caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant nutritional supplements, and a significant increase in the risk of serious heart problems, including heart attack and heart attack, in young people, according to the “Healthline” website.
These results, scheduled to be presented at the 2026 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions, held in Chicago November 6-9, are preliminary and do not prove that energy drinks directly cause these heart problems.
However, the results highlight potentially worrying effects of these common products on cardiovascular health, especially in adults under 35 who consume them regularly.
“These products are promoted as a way to boost daily activity and are sold alongside soft drinks and bottled water,” Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine in Charlottesville and an author on the study, said in a press release. “So most people assume it doesn't pose any real risks.”
“For many healthy people, the risk may be minimal when consuming these products on rare occasions,” Samayamanthula added. But people who regularly take energy drinks or other supplements containing stimulants may quickly exceed the recommended daily limit of caffeine; “So it is important for people to be aware that these products may carry cardiovascular risks.”
Energy drinks linked to a 4.5-fold increase in heart attack reports
Researchers from the University of Virginia School of Medicine analyzed 28,345 reports submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the period from 2017 to 2025.
Of these reports, 854 reports were related to energy drinks containing caffeine or stimulant nutritional supplements, while the other reports related to products that did not contain stimulants.
A comparison with non-stimulant products showed that cardiac arrest reports associated with energy drinks and stimulant supplements were approximately 11 times higher.
The rate of reports of heart attacks increased by 4.5 times, while reports of ventricular arrhythmias and heart palpitations were reported at a rate approximately four times higher.
It was found that about 45 percent of reports related to heart problems concern adults between the ages of 18 and 34 years.
“Our findings support the need for more systematic safety monitoring of products containing caffeine and stimulants,” Samayamanthula said. “In addition, healthcare professionals should be careful to ask their younger patients who experience heart palpitations, chest pain, or fainting spells whether they have recently consumed these products or take them regularly.”
Experts warn of the risks and stress the need for more research
For his part, Dr. Gregory M. Marcus, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, who led the preparation of the American Heart Association's 2026 Scientific Statement on Caffeine and Cardiovascular Disease, noted that the research, in which he was not involved, "raises concerns that products containing very high amounts of caffeine may be harmful to the cardiovascular system."
Marcus said in a press release: “Although there are biological reasons that may make this association possible, the study does not prove that caffeine-containing products caused these cases; “There may be other factors that influenced the results of this analysis.”
He added: “More research is needed to understand whether these stimulant products are actually responsible for the reported heart cases.”
As for Dr. Cheng-Han Chen, a board-certified interventional cardiologist, he explained that the results, although worrying, were not surprising to him.
“We know that energy drinks can have significant effects on the cardiovascular system, mainly due to their stimulant properties,” he told Healthline.
He added: “Caffeine can raise blood pressure and increase heart rate, while other ingredients, such as guarana and taurine, may contribute to further stimulating the cardiovascular system and raising levels of stress hormones. “What is particularly concerning is the potential for these products to lead to serious complications, including heart arrhythmias, especially in people who already have underlying cardiovascular problems.”
Chen noted that consuming energy drinks on rare occasions is unlikely to lead to long-term consequences on heart health in most healthy people, but warned that “frequent or excessive consumption may increase the risk of high blood pressure and heart rhythm disturbances.”
