Research suggests link between energy drinks and heart issues in young adults

Research links energy drinks to heart issues in young adults Study presented during an American Heart Association meeting prompts calls for more information Advertisement Updated: 5:36 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Todd Dykes Investigative Reporter Research links energy drinks to heart issues in young adults Study presented during an American Heart Association meeting prompts calls for more information Updated: 5:36 PM EST Nov 12, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Todd Dykes Investigative Reporter CINCINNATI — New research presented at a recent American Heart Association meeting suggests energy drinks may be linked to heart problems in younger adults, based on voluntary reports submitted to the Food and Drug Administration. The study is putting the multi-billion-dollar energy drink industry under some degree of scrutiny. Dr. Shola Adekoya, an invasive cardiologist at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Edgewood, called the findings "alarming" and emphasized the need for more studies. Advertisement "This is a population, first of all, that we don't necessarily think about cardiovascular disease in," Adekoya said. "Such results are really alarming and call for further studies because these were self-reported incidents." The study reviewed more than 28,000 reports submitted to the FDA. Reports involving caffeine and stimulant products mentioned cardiac arrest about 11 times more often than reports about other products without those ingredients. Heart attacks were reported approximately 4.5 times more often. About 45% of the heart-related reports involved young adults aged 18 to 34. "We see them in the emergency department with really elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate, feeling like they are having a heart attack," Adekoya said. While drinking four or five cups of brewed coffee a day is considered safe for most adults, Adekoya urged caution regarding energy drinks. "Really, really exercise a lot of caution, in abundance, because these drinks are not, like, FDA-approved," Adekoya said. "They are not governed by our routine pharmacovigilance measures. So I would really, you know, recommend an abundance of caution when using them." The American Heart Association stated that the findings about energy drinks and stimulant supplements are preliminary and will remain so until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Make WLWT a preferred source on Google Add Preferred Source Share Infinite Scroll Enabled Top Picks Anthony Clark, a comedian and actor who starred on 'Yes, Dear,' dies WATCH: Baby bear captured on Ring camera 'ding-dong ditching' home at 2 a.m. Teen who has autism found alive after missing for nearly a week in the Australian woodlands Microsoft confirms Outlook outage affecting users worldwide