Energy Drinks Can Strain the Heart and Liver

Energy drinks are becoming more popular, with newer brands joining Red Bull and Monster. Some are promoted as healthier than older energy drinks or coffee, but their effects depend heavily on the amount consumed and the ingredients involved.

Caffeine may help someone train harder in moderate quantities, yet it does not replace sleep, protein, or recovery. Experts recommend staying below 400 milligrams daily. Since many cans contain at least 200 milligrams, drinking several can push someone past that level. Research reviews associate energy-drink use with higher blood pressure and faster heart rates, while the American Heart Association has raised concerns about large caffeine doses. Severe heart problems have been reported after very heavy consumption.

The article also addresses muscle, sweetener, and vitamin claims. A laboratory study involving mouse muscle cells found reduced markers tied to muscle development, but researchers do not know whether drinking these products produces the same result in people. Evidence that acesulfame-K causes cancer is not conclusive, and European regulators said 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight daily is acceptable. Excessive niacin, however, can injure the liver; reported cases involved repeated, high-volume use. B vitamins support energy processing but do not create an immediate burst of energy.