FDA reports involving caffeine- and stimulant-containing energy drinks and supplements were about 11 times more likely to mention cardiac arrest and 4.5 times more likely to mention heart attacks than reports involving products without these ingredients, reports Medical News Today.
Reports involving stimulant-containing products were also more likely to mention ventricular arrhythmias or heart palpitations, elevated heart rate, and chest pain.
Preliminary research presented this past week at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2026 suggests that energy drinks and stimulant supplements are associated with an increased likelihood of reports of serious heart-related events, particularly among young adults.
The findings are notable because cardiovascular events are generally less common among younger adults than older people, and almost half of the reports linking stimulant-containing products to cardiovascular events involved adults aged 18 to 34.
However, the researchers emphasise that the findings demonstrate an association rather than a cause-and-effect relationship. The study also relies on voluntary reports of adverse events, meaning it cannot establish how frequently these events occur among people who consume energy drinks or supplements.
Additionally, it is important to note that these are preliminary findings and, as such, are not yet peer-reviewed.
What they found
For the study, researchers analysed 28 345 reports of potential adverse events recorded in a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) safety database between 2017 and 2025.
Of these reports, 854 involved energy drinks or dietary supplements containing caffeine or other stimulants. The researchers compared these reports with 27 491 reports involving products without these ingredients, including soft drinks, protein bars, meal replacement shakes, smoothies, and vitamins. The analysis revealed several differences in the frequency of reported cardiovascular events.
Compared with reports involving products without caffeine or other stimulants, reports involving stimulant-containing products were:
about 11 times more likely to mention cardiac arrest;
4.5 times more likely to mention heart attack;
four times more likely to mention ventricular arrhythmias or heart palpitations;
nearly three times more likely to mention an elevated heart rate;
2.71 times more likely to mention chest pain;
about twice as likely to mention fainting.
Importantly, these figures represent differences in the frequency of events reported to the FDA, rather than differences in the actual risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event. The study did not establish how many people consumed these products without experiencing adverse effects.
“These findings are concerning, but they are not entirely surprising,” said Cheng-Han Chen, MD, board certified interventional cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Centre in California, who was not involved in the study.
“We know energy drinks can have significant effects on the cardiovascular system, primarily because of their stimulant properties. Caffeine can increase blood pressure and heart rate, while other ingredients, like guarana and taurine, may further contribute to cardiovascular stimulation and increased stress hormone levels.
“What is particularly concerning is the potential for these products to trigger serious complications, including abnormal heart rhythms, especially in people with underlying cardiovascular conditions.”
While occasional energy drink consumption is not likely to result in long-term consequences for most healthy individuals, frequent or excessive consumption can potentially increase the risk of hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias,” he added.
Research suggests that consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally considered safe for most healthy adults – roughly four to five cups of regular brewed coffee, although caffeine content varies by preparation.
But energy drinks and pre-workout supplements can contain substantially more caffeine than brewed coffee. Some products also contain additional stimulant ingredients, which may contribute to their overall physiological effects.
The combination of caffeine and other stimulants may be relevant when assessing potential cardiovascular effects. However, the current study did not establish which ingredients, doses, or combinations were responsible for the patterns observed in the reports.
Energy drinks and stimulant supplements are also regulated differently from medications. Because they are generally regulated as foods or dietary supplements, they do not undergo the same premarket approval and safety testing requirements as prescription medications.
Young adults
The researchers found that adults aged 18 to 34 accounted for 45% of reports linking caffeine- and stimulant-containing products to cardiovascular events.
The researchers suggest that younger adults may consume energy drinks and stimulant supplements more frequently, particularly to improve alertness, support exercise, or manage fatigue. The timing and circumstances of consumption could also be relevant, including taking stimulant products before intense physical activity or combining them with alcohol or other substances.
They said many people may under-estimate the potential risks and exceed recommended daily caffeine limits without realising it, given how widely available energy drinks and supplements are. The findings suggest that healthcare professionals may benefit from asking younger people who experience palpitations, chest pain, or fainting about their use of energy drinks and stimulant supplements.
“One challenge is that younger people may not recognise that these products can have significant effects on their heart and blood pressure, especially when consumed frequently or in combination with other caffeinated products,” said Chen.
Do energy drinks cause heart attacks or cardiac arrest?
While the findings suggest a link, the study cannot establish that energy drinks or stimulant supplements directly cause cardiac arrest, heart attacks, or other cardiovascular events.
Although the FDA reports can help identify potential safety signals, they do not provide a complete picture of how often adverse events occur.
Additionally, the analysis cannot account for other factors that may have contributed to the reported events, including pre-existing medical conditions, other medications or substances, exercise, and the amount of caffeine consumption.
Further research is necessary to determine whether stimulant-containing products are directly responsible for cardiovascular complications and to identify which ingredients, doses, and patterns of consumption may pose the greatest risks.
Chen also pointed out that energy drinks may have varying caffeine contents and serving sizes, which affect the amount consumed.
“Depending on the product, a single can may contain anywhere from 80 mg to 300 mgs of caffeine, meaning that drinking even one or two of these can put someone close to or above the recommended daily limit, particularly when combined with coffee, tea, or other caffeinated supplements,” he said.
Although the findings raise concerns about the possible risks associated with these products, larger and more rigorous studies are necessary to establish the direct effect of caffeine and other stimulants on heart health.
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