Energy Drinks and Heart Health: FDA Reports Link Stimulant Products to Cardiac Arrest in Young Adults
A new analysis of U.S. Food and Drug Administration safety reports links energy drinks and stimulant supplements to serious heart events. In reports to the agency, cardiac arrest showed up about 11 times more often when these products were involved than when other foods and supplements were. The research will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago, November 6–9. The authors point out that their data cannot show these products caused the events. Still, the findings add to questions about high-caffeine and stimulant products, especially among young adults. Here is what the research found, how strong it is, and what it means for energy drinks and heart health.
What the energy drinks and heart health study found
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine reviewed reports submitted to an FDA safety database from 2017 to 2025. The reports involved people aged 13 and older. According to the American Heart Association news release (Abstract MDP0323, released November 2, 2026):
- There were 28,345 reports in total. Of these, 854 involved caffeinated energy drinks or stimulant dietary supplements, and 27,491 involved products without caffeine or stimulants, such as soft drinks, protein bars and vitamins.
- About 45% of the reports describing heart-related events involved adults ages 18 to 34.
- The authors report that patterns were similar in men and women.
How often heart events appeared in reports
| Event | Reported with energy drinks/stimulant supplements vs. other products |
|---|---|
| Cardiac arrest | About 11 times more often |
| Heart attack | About 4.5 times more likely |
| Ventricular arrhythmias or palpitations | About 4 times more likely |
| Elevated heart rate | Nearly 3 times more often |
| Chest pain | 2.71 times more often |
| Fainting | About 2 times more often |
Source: American Heart Association, Nov. 2, 2026. These figures compare how often events show up in reports. They do not describe the risk to a typical consumer.
Which ingredients were included
- Caffeine
- Other methylxanthines and caffeine sources: theobromine, guarana, yerba mate, green tea and coffee extracts
- Sympathomimetic stimulants: synephrine, yohimbine, ephedra, DMAA and higenamine
How strong is the evidence?
The study has real limits, and the authors say so:
- Preliminary research: This is a meeting abstract. It has not been peer-reviewed or published as a full paper.
- Voluntary reports: The database collects reports that people choose to submit. Researchers do not know how many people used these products without any problem, or how many events were never reported.
- No proof of cause: The design can show a pattern in reports but “cannot prove that these products directly caused any heart conditions or events,” according to the AHA release.
- Other factors: The authors suggest the young-adult pattern could reflect how often this age group uses the products, taking them before exercise, mixing them with alcohol or drugs, or undiagnosed heart conditions.
In short, this kind of study is a warning signal that justifies more research. It is not a measure of how dangerous any single product is.
What experts said
Lead author Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, said these products “are marketed as everyday pick-me-ups and sold next to soda and bottled water.” Samayamanthula added that for many healthy people who use them occasionally, “the risk is probably small,” but noted that regular users can quickly go over recommended daily caffeine limits.
Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, was not involved in the research. He said the study “raises concerns that products with very high amounts of caffeine may be harmful to the cardiovascular system.” He also stressed that it does not prove caffeine products cause these events.
Context: how much caffeine is in these products?
- According to the AHA release, some energy drinks contain up to three times as much caffeine per fluid ounce as brewed coffee, and some pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much.
- The AHA release says U.S. energy drink sales more than doubled over the past decade, reaching more than $20 billion in 2024.
- The FDA has said that for healthy adults, 400 milligrams of caffeine a day is not generally associated with dangerous effects. The agency notes that sensitivity varies from person to person.
Practical takeaways
General information only, not personal medical advice.
- Read labels. Check total caffeine per can or scoop, and look for added stimulants such as synephrine or yohimbine.
- Add it up. Coffee, tea, soda, energy drinks and pre-workout products all count toward your daily caffeine intake.
- Be cautious about mixing. The researchers noted concerns about combining these products with alcohol, other drugs or intense exercise.
- Pay attention to symptoms. Palpitations, chest pain or fainting call for prompt medical attention. Call 911 for chest pain or collapse.
- Talk to a clinician. If you have a heart condition, high blood pressure, are pregnant, or take medications, ask a healthcare professional whether these products are safe for you. The study authors also encouraged clinicians to ask younger patients with heart symptoms about energy drink and supplement use.
What comes next
The full findings are scheduled for presentation at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 (November 6–9, Chicago). Peer-reviewed publication, and studies that can track actual product use and outcomes, would be needed to measure risk more precisely.
Related General Health coverage on Vanderbiltreport.com
- Blood Pressure Readings Explained: What the Numbers Mean and When to Act
- Heart Failure Statistics 2026: Deaths Are Rising and Younger Adults Are Increasingly Affected
- Late-Night Eating and Fatty Liver Disease: Study of 200,000 Adults Finds Higher Risk
Sources
- American Heart Association news release, Nov. 2, 2026
- AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 Public Newsroom
- Medical Daily, Nov. 4, 2026
- FDA: Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine Is Too Much?
Publisher Disclaimer: Vanderbiltreport.com publishes news and information for general informational and educational purposes. Information is compiled from sources believed to be reliable, but Vanderbiltreport.com does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of all information presented. Readers should independently verify information and conduct their own research before making financial, investment, business, or other decisions.
