Chronic high consumption of energy drinks is not initially associated with cardiological impairment in adolescents Data from the EDKAR study evaluated
What it's about:
A recent study found no cardiological changes in teenagers who drank large amounts of energy drinks over a long period of time. In the EDKAR study, researchers from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin found that adolescents who consumed large amounts of energy drinks over a period of at least one year did not differ from adolescents who did not consume such drinks at all in terms of blood pressure, heart rate or heart structure. "It is well- known that energy drinks can have an acute effect on the cardiovascular system due to their high caffeine content and can trigger, for example, palpitations or an increase in blood pressure when consumed in large quantities," says Professor Cornelia Weikert, head of the Human Study Centre Consumer Health Protection at the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment. "With our study, we wanted to find out whether these negative effects of energy drinks also impair adolescents’ cardiological health in the long term." Another result of the study is significant in this context: compared to the control group, adolescents who drink large amounts of energy drinks smoke tobacco and marijuana more frequently, drink more alcohol and sleep less. They thus exhibit more behaviours that can endanger cardiological health in the long term. The results of the EDKAR study have been published in the External Link:“European Journal of Epidemiology”.
Energy drinks are caffeinated soft drinks that are advertised as heightening concentration and boosting physical performance. These sweet drinks are popular among adolescents. When consumed in large quantities, their high caffeine levels can cause temporary anxiety and irritability, as well as insomnia, sweating and palpitations. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority) considers a daily intake of 3 milligrams (mgshort formilligram) of caffeine per kilogram of body weight to be safe for children and adolescents. Adolescents weighing 50 kilograms would exceed this value by consuming two commercially available energy drinks (80 mgshort formilligram caffeine per 250 millilitre can).
Until now, the health consequences, apart from acute negative effects, of long-term consumption of energy drinks on the cardiological health of adolescents was not known. This has now been investigated for the first time in the EDKAR (Energy Drinks und KARdiologisches Risiko – Energy Drinks and Cardiological Risk) study. The researchers first surveyed more than 5,000 Berlin school pupils aged between 15 and 18 about their consumption of energy drinks and numerous other lifestyle factors, such as whether and how much they smoke or drink alcohol. Adolescents who reported drinking energy drinks at least four days a week for at least one year and who thus consume more than 3 mgshort formilligram of caffeine per kilogram of body weight per day from these drinks alone were invited to undergo a cardiological examination. Cardiological data from 97 adolescents with chronic high consumption were compared with those from 160 adolescents in a control group. The adolescents in the control group had not consumed any energy drinks in the previous 12 months and had not consumed more than 80 mgshort formilligram of caffeine per week from other sources such as coffee or tea. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured, heart rate and heart rhythm were determined using an ECG (electrocardiogram), and a detailed analysis of cardiological structure and function was performed using echocardiography.
The evaluation showed that chronic high consumption of energy drinks had no effect on the cardiological health of the adolescents studied. There were no statistically significant and/or clinically relevant differences between chronic high consumers and the control group in the parameters examined. Regardless of this, the results of the study do not call EFSAshort forEuropean Food Safety Authority's health guidelines into question. In fact, almost half of heavy consumers reported having experienced adverse effects after consuming an energy drink. Those affected most frequently reported heart palpitations or rapid heartbeat, poor sleep, headaches and a feeling of pressure or tightness in the chest. Although the known acute effects of high doses of caffeine on the cardiovascular system were also more prevalent among study participants with chronic high energy drink consumption, they do not appear to have left any traces on the heart. "The data suggest that the cardiovascular system of adolescents is adaptable enough to compensate for the possible negative effects of energy drinks, at least for a while," explains Weikert.
It is unclear whether and how long-term high consumption could affect health in later years. According to the researchers, people with pre-existing medical conditions or additional risk factors are particularly at risk. With regard to both acute and long-term health impact, particular caution is also advised when consuming energy drinks and alcohol or other party drugs at the same time.
Link to the study: External Link:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10654-025-01292-z
Further information on the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment website on energy drinks and caffeine
- BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment FAQ on caffeine and foods containing caffeine, including energy drinks Go to the FAQ
- BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment opinion: Children and adolescents: Excessive consumption of energy drinks increases health risk for cardiovascular system Go to the opinion
- BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment communication: Even small amounts of highly concentrated caffeine powder can cause severe poisoning Go to the communication
About the BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment) is a scientifically independent institution within the portfolio of the Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Home Affairs (BMLEH). The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment advises the Federal Government and the States (‘Laender’) on questions of food, chemicals and product safety. The BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment conducts independent research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.