Adults aged 18 to 34 face disproportionate risks of cardiac arrest and heart attacks linked to caffeinated energy drinks and pre-workout supplements, according to independent research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions.
Adults between the ages of 18 and 34 accounted for approximately 45 percent of the reports connecting stimulant products to cardiovascular episodes. An analysis of more than 28,000 adverse-event reports submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration between 2017 and 2025 revealed that products containing caffeine and other legal stimulants appeared far more frequently in serious cardiac incident records than non-stimulant items. Cardiac arrest was reported roughly 11 times more often in connection with caffeine and stimulant products compared to items without them.
Researchers Track FDA Safety Reports and Age Demographics
Out of 28,345 safety reports filed to the FDA between 2017 and 2025, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine examined filings involving individuals aged 13 and older. Exactly 854 reports specifically mentioned caffeine or stimulant-containing energy drinks or dietary supplements. Beyond the 11-fold increase in cardiac arrest reports, findings showed that energy drink and supplement filings were 4.5 times more likely to involve heart attacks, four times more likely to involve ventricular arrhythmias, four times more likely to involve palpitations, nearly three times more likely to involve elevated heart rate, 2.71 times more likely to involve chest pain, and twice as likely to involve fainting.
These products are marketed as everyday pick-me-ups and sold next to soda and bottled water, so most people assume they carry no real risk,
said Sai Samayamanthula, study author and a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
Categories tracked by researchers included caffeine, methylxanthines such as theobromine, guarana, yerba mate, and green tea or coffee extracts, alongside stronger sympathomimetics like synephrine, yohimbine, ephedra, DMAA, and higenamine. The analyzed products were grouped by ingredients rather than individual brands. These ingredients appeared in soft drinks, meal replacement shakes, protein bars, smoothies, and vitamins.
Energy Drink Sales Double as Caffeine Limits Face Heavy Loads in Cans
U.S. energy drink sales have more than doubled over the past decade, reaching more than $20 billion in 2024. The commercial market hit $25 billion in 2024, with Morgan Stanley projecting continued annual growth of 6% for the sector.
Federal health guidance establishes that consuming up to 400 milligrams of caffeine daily is generally safe for most healthy adults, an amount equivalent to roughly four or five 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee. Popular commercial brands pack between 150 and 300 milligrams of caffeine into a single can. Individual beverages vary sharply. Some energy drinks contain up to three times as much caffeine per fluid ounce as brewed coffee, while certain pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much.
Cardiologists Warn Excessive Stimulant Intake Triggers Heart Risks and Dehydration
Dr. Abdul Saadi, an interventional cardiologist at Orlando Health in Brandon, stated that medical providers routinely question patients about their daily intake. Medical professionals note that excessive stimulant intake can elevate blood pressure, force the heart to beat faster, increase stress hormone levels, and trigger dehydration.
We ask them, you know, routinely about energy drink utilization,
Saadi said.
Dr. Gregory Marcus addressed the preliminary findings ahead of their presentation at the Scientific Sessions.
This study raises concerns that products with very high amounts of caffeine may be harmful to the cardiovascular system.
Dr Gregory Marcus, chairman of the American Heart Association
Although there are biological reasons why that connection could be possible, the study does not prove that caffeine products cause these events, because other factors may have influenced the results found in this analysis. More research is needed to understand whether these stimulant products are truly responsible for the reported heart-related events.
Dr Gregory Marcus, chairman of the American Heart Association
Market research from Euromonitor International showed that taxes reduced energy drink sales by up to 65 per cent in the first 15 months after implementation. In the United States, energy drinks and stimulant supplements are regulated as foods and dietary supplements rather than medications, meaning they do not undergo the same pre-market safety testing.
Earlier coverage: New Study Links Energy Drinks to Heart Attacks in Young Adults
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