Study context: Samayamanthula S, et al. "Cardiovascular Safety of Caffeine- and Stimulant-Containing Energy Drinks and Dietary Supplements." American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2026, Abstract MDP0323. Preliminary research abstract; findings have not been peer-reviewed. Read the American Heart Association research summary.
Consumer safety is always a top priority for the dietary supplement industry, and research that examines potential cardiovascular concerns deserves careful consideration. However, this preliminary study seems to contrive patterns in adverse event reports among vastly dissimilar products, which cannot establish that those products caused the reported events or determine the likelihood of these events occurring among consumers.
The study groups together a broad range of energy drinks and dietary supplements containing different compounds, including some ingredients that cannot even legally be marketed in dietary supplements or food (e.g., ephedra, DMAA, higenamine) without verifying specific ingredient exposures or amounts consumed. The study also fails to distinguish between energy drinks, concentrated energy shots, and dietary supplements in pill or powder form, which differ in their formulations, consumption patterns, and regulatory classifications, making it impossible to determine which product category contributed to the observed reporting signals. But the study authors are critical of the caffeine per ounce formulations without recognizing the serving size may be greatly different than a cup of coffee.
By grouping caffeine, botanical extracts, and other ingredients together, the study cannot determine which individual materials or combinations may be associated with the reported cardiovascular events. Nor does the analysis account for the amount or frequency of consumption, or whether products were used according to label directions, making it impossible to assess potential dose-related effects.
“Because the analysis does not account for how many consumers actually used these products, whether they were overused or misused, or even the amount of caffeine (or other ingredients) per serving, it cannot determine the incidence of cardiovascular events or quantify the associated risk. Importantly, the reported 11-fold difference in cardiac arrest reporting does not mean consumers are 11 times more likely to experience cardiac arrest.”
— Andrea Wong, Ph.D.
Chief Science Officer
Council for Responsible Nutrition
The findings also do not establish that young adults face a greater cardiovascular risk than other age groups. Patterns of product use, physical activity, underlying health conditions, and other factors may influence the observed results. The analysis does not appear to account for variations or other potential contributing factors, including concurrent caffeine intake, alcohol consumption, or medication use. All these limitations are important when interpreting the results and underscore the need for additional research before drawing conclusions that could fuel alarmist headlines.
Caffeine has been extensively studied, and moderate consumption is generally considered safe for most healthy adults. CRN and its members have long recognized the importance of responsible caffeine use, establishing voluntary guidelines more than a decade ago that go beyond federal requirements to promote transparent labeling, appropriate safety advisories, and responsible consumption. Consumers should follow product directions, be mindful of their total caffeine intake from all sources, and consult healthcare professionals if they have underlying cardiovascular conditions or concerns about stimulant use. CRN supports continued research and safety monitoring to help consumers make informed decisions.