Energy drinks ‘could be linked with heart complications’

People who drink too many energy drinks could be at risk of developing cardiac complications, according to a new case report.

A team from the University of Florida, Gainesville examined a 28-year-old man seen in the emergency department after developing vomiting with blood. The only abnormality observed in the patient other than obesity was a very fast heart rate of about 130 beats per minute.

The patient said he routinely drank two Monster energy drinks per day, with a total caffeine intake of 320 milligrams, along with two or three beers. No other common causes of heart rhythm abnormality were seen.

It was noted that the 160 mg caffeine content of a Monster energy drink is about four times higher than in a caffeinated soft drink, with a review of existing medical research identifying at least eight cases of cardiovascular events linked to energy drinks.

Lead author Dr Maryam Sattari of the University of Florida said she and her colleagues believe that energy drink consumption "played a key role" in the patient's atrial fibrillation, adding: "We suggest that arrhythmia could be a complication of energy drink consumption."