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Review
. 2017 Jun 7;9(6):e1322.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.1322.

Energy Drinks and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Current Literature

Muhammad A Mangi  1 , Hiba Rehman  1 , Muhammad Rafique  2 , Michael Illovsky  3
Affiliations
Review

Energy Drinks and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Current Literature

Muhammad A Mangi et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Energy drinks (EDs) are commonly used as a dietary supplement by young adolescents and adults. They are often used as a source of energy in order to enhance physical and mental performance. EDs contain a variety of substances, but caffeine is the main component. Safety has been the biggest concern associated with consuming EDs. Case reports, observational studies, and meta-analyses have been done in order to determine the effects of EDs on cardiovascular changes. The detrimental effects of EDs are cardiac arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, prolonged QT interval, aortic dissection, and death. In this article, we review case reports, observational studies, and meta-analyses of EDs and the risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. We also review active ingredients, pharmacokinetics, and the mechanism of action of EDs.

Keywords: cardiac arrhythmias; cardiovascular diseases; energy drink.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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