A new analysis of more than 28,000 adverse event reports submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration over eight years has found that caffeinated energy drinks and stimulant-containing dietary supplements were linked to serious cardiovascular events far more often than other products. The preliminary research, to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, highlights a potential risk for young adults who regularly consume these products.
The study, which examined reports from 2017 to 2025, compared 854 reports involving caffeine- or stimulant-containing products with 27,491 reports about products without these ingredients. The findings showed that cardiac arrest was reported about 11 times more often in connection with the stimulant products. Reports involving energy drinks and supplements were also about 4.5 times more likely to include heart attacks and four times more likely to include ventricular arrhythmias or heart palpitations. Other cardiovascular issues, 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 between the ages of 18 and 34—a group not typically considered at high risk for such events.
“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 study author Sai Samayamanthula, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Virginia School of Medicine. “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 study’s implications are significant given the rapid growth of the energy drink market, which exceeded $20 billion in sales in 2024. Unlike medications, energy drinks and stimulant supplements are regulated by the FDA as foods or dietary supplements, meaning they do not undergo the same premarket safety testing. 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.
The researchers emphasize that the study’s design only identifies associations and cannot prove causation. The reports were voluntarily submitted, and it is unknown how many people consumed these products without experiencing cardiac events. “This study raises concerns that products with very high amounts of caffeine may be harmful to the cardiovascular system,” said Gregory M. Marcus, M.D., M.A.S., FAHA, chair of the 2026 American Heart Association scientific statement on caffeine and cardiovascular disease. “Although there are biological reasons why that connection could be possible, the study does not prove that caffeine products cause these events.”
Despite these limitations, the findings underscore the need for more systematic safety monitoring of caffeine- and stimulant-containing products. Healthcare professionals are encouraged to ask younger patients about their consumption of these products when they present with palpitations, chest pain, or fainting. The research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that high-dose caffeine products may pose cardiovascular risks, particularly for young adults. As the market for these products continues to expand, the study serves as a call for increased scrutiny and consumer education. For more information on cardiac arrest and heart attacks, visit the American Heart Association’s cardiac arrest and heart attacks resources.
