FDA Reports Link Energy Drinks and Stimulant Supplements to Serious Heart Events in Young Adults

Preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 suggests that caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant supplements are linked to serious cardiovascular events, including cardiac arrest and heart attacks, particularly in young adults. The study, which analyzed more than 28,000 adverse-event reports submitted to the FDA over eight years, found that products containing caffeine or other stimulants were associated with significantly higher reporting of heart-related problems compared to other foods and supplements. The findings raise concerns about the safety of a rapidly growing market that includes energy drinks and pre-workout supplements, which are often consumed by younger demographics.

The research, led by Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, examined 28,345 reports from 2017 to 2025. Of those, 854 reports mentioned caffeine- or stimulant-containing energy drinks or dietary supplements, while 27,491 reports involved products without these ingredients. The analysis revealed that cardiac arrest was reported about 11 times more often in connection with caffeine- and stimulant-containing products. Reports involving energy drinks and supplements were approximately 4.5 times more likely to include heart attacks and four times more likely to include ventricular arrhythmias or heart palpitations. Other cardiovascular conditions, such as elevated heart rate, chest pain, and fainting, were also reported more frequently. Notably, about 45% of the reports linking these products to cardiovascular events involved adults ages 18 to 34—a group not typically considered at high risk for heart problems.

The study’s findings come amid a surge in energy drink sales, which have more than doubled over the past decade to exceed $20 billion in 2024. According to a 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement on caffeine and cardiovascular disease, consuming up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is generally safe for most adults. However, some energy drinks contain as much as three times more caffeine per fluid ounce than brewed coffee, and some pre-workout supplements contain more than 12 times as much. Because the FDA regulates these products as foods or dietary supplements rather than medications, they do not undergo the same premarket safety testing required for drugs. “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,” Samayamanthula said. “For many healthy people, if these products are consumed occasionally, the risk is probably small. However, individuals who consume energy drinks or other stimulant-containing supplements regularly can quickly exceed the recommended daily limit for caffeine.”

The research does not prove that caffeine products cause these events, and the authors emphasize that the analysis only identifies associations based on voluntarily self-reported data. Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, chair of the 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement on caffeine and cardiovascular disease, noted, “This study raises concerns that products with very high amounts of caffeine may be harmful to the cardiovascular system. Although there are biological reasons why that connection could be possible, the study does not prove that caffeine products cause these events.” Marcus, who was not involved in the study, is a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine. The findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

The study’s implications extend to public health and consumer awareness. With energy drink consumption rising, especially among young adults, the researchers call for more systematic safety monitoring of caffeine- and stimulant-containing products. They also advise healthcare professionals to ask younger patients about their consumption of these products when they present with palpitations, chest pain, or fainting. For more information on cardiac arrest, heart attacks, and arrhythmias, visit the American Heart Association’s resources. The abstract is available in the abstract and the Online Program Planner. Additional news releases from the American Heart Association include Coffee and heart health: How many cups of caffeinated coffee are safe to drink each day? and Top Health Experts Release New Drink Recommendations for Kids and Teens’ Overall Health. The American Heart Association’s financial information is available here.