Excess of caffeine leads to heart failure

A 21-year-old student developed heart failure after “excessive” consumption of high caffeine energy drinks, an article in a medical journal suggests.

The man drank four 500ml energy drinks a day for two years before he needed hospital treatment for heart failure, according to a new BMJ Case Report.

The student required intensive care treatment and was so ill medics were considering whether he needed an organ transplant.

Blood tests, scans and ECG readings revealed he had both heart and kidney failure.

“We report a case of severe biventricular heart failure potentially related to excessive energy drink consumption in a 21-year-old man,” the authors from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, wrote.

They said the man had no medical history other than excessive intake of energy drinks, with each can containing 160mg of caffeine.

The authors said that in the three months prior to his hospital admission he was unable to continue his university studies due to his lethargy and feelings of ill health.

He spent 58 days in hospital, including a stint on the intensive care unit, which he described as “traumatising”.

“This case report adds to the growing concern in the literature about the potential cardiotoxic effects of energy drinks,” they wrote.

After nine months his heart function has appeared to have returned with “mildly impaired function”, they added.

The patient, who has not been named, added his own thoughts to the article, and called for more warning labels on the drinks.