Alcohol and energy drinks are both known to be harmful to various organs in the body, including the kidneys and heart, when consumed excessively. However, Business Insider reported a case of serious kidney and heart failure caused by excessive consumption of another beverage – energy drinks. The case involves a 21-year-old male university student from the UK, who maintained the habit of drinking 4 cans of energy drinks daily for 2 years. This case was published in the BMJ Case Reports journal to warn about the dangerous complications of excessive caffeine intake found in energy drinks.

Kidney and Heart Failure from Excessive Energy Drink Consumption

According to Business Insider, the patient was treated at St Thomas' Hospital in London, UK. This student had to be hospitalized for nearly two months, with one week spent in intensive care.

When doctors inquired about the patient's history, they learned that he consumed an average of 4 cans of 500ml energy drinks per day. This means he was consuming around 640mg of caffeine daily, which is far higher than the safe limit of 400mg/day recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The patient shared, “I think people need to be aware of the ingredients in energy drinks and the harmful effects of consuming too much of these beverages.”

Before being hospitalized, the patient had experienced prolonged symptoms such as hand tremors, shortness of breath, and severe digestive issues, which led him to take a break from his studies.

Doctors stated that the patient would need a kidney and heart transplant to survive.

Energy Drinks – The Danger of Caffeine Overdose

This case serves as a warning about the health risks of consuming too many energy drinks, which are high in caffeine. According to Business Insider, caffeine is a stimulant and is considered safe when consumed in moderation. At moderate levels, caffeine can help improve concentration, mood, and energy levels. However, caffeine abuse can cause anxiety, rapid heart rate, and low blood pressure. In severe cases, caffeine poisoning can lead to coma or death.

Additionally, high doses of caffeine can cause metabolic acidosis, a dangerous buildup of acid in the body, increasing the risk of kidney failure.

Products containing concentrated caffeine, such as energy drinks, pose a higher risk of toxicity compared to coffee or tea when consumed in excess. Besides energy drinks, dietary supplements for energy, exercise, or weight loss that contain caffeine also need to be used cautiously and in moderation, Business Insider reported.

The safe caffeine consumption threshold is 400mg/day, which is equivalent to 4 cups of coffee a day.