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Research · Food and drink

Energy drinks

Pooled studies found energy drinks improved strength, endurance and jumping, and a review credits the caffeine for mental performance. Systolic blood pressure rose about 4 to 5 mmHg in pooled trials, and two trials found a longer QTc interval that pooled trials did not confirm. Insomnia was five times as likely. Young people's use is linked to short sleep.

Add to Bio HackChecked 2026-11-13
Status
A food, not a regulated health product. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 say to avoid sugar-sweetened beverages such as sodas, fruit drinks and energy drinks, and for adolescents to significantly limit sugary drinks and energy drinks [1]. A 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report states that caffeine and other stimulants in energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents [2]. For most adults, the FDA has cited 400 mg of caffeine a day as an amount not generally associated with negative effects [3].
Also called
energy drink, energy shots, caffeinated energy drinks, sugar-free energy drinks, taurine drinks, guarana drinks, alcohol mixed with energy drinks
Studied for
energy, alertness, focus, staying awake, studying, exercise performance, pre-workout, strength, endurance

Strong several reviews agree · Moderate one review or consistent trials · Limited one or a few small studies · Untested no study in people, listed with what it rests on

Shown to help2

Reported risks7

What it was studied for, and what was found

Shown to help2

Moderate

Exercise performance

Shown to improve muscle strength and endurance, endurance tests, jumping and sport-specific actions after one energy drink, in pooled studies, with no significant effect on sprinting.

Compared with control or placebo conditions the abstract does not describe [4]

The numbers and sources
Effect
Energy drink intake improved muscle strength and endurance (effect size 0.49), endurance exercise tests (0.53), jumping (0.29) and sport-specific actions (0.51), and not sprinting (0.14, p = 0.06). Performance was associated with taurine dose and not with caffeine dose in a meta-regression [4].
Population
34 studies published 1998 to 2015 [4].
Sources
[4]
Caveats
One review, with drinks varying in dose and ingredients. A different review found little evidence that ingredients other than caffeine improve performance [5]. Caffeine trials on their own are on the caffeine page.
Limited

Alertness and mental performance

A systematic review found the caffeine dose in a typical energy drink can improve mental performance, with little evidence that taurine, ginseng or other added ingredients contribute.

Compared with caffeine alone or placebo, in the studies reviewed [5]

The numbers and sources
Effect
A typical 235 ml energy drink provides 40 to 250 mg of caffeine, doses that improve cognitive performance and, at the higher levels, physical performance. Across 32 articles, apart from weak evidence for glucose and guarana extract, there was an overwhelming lack of evidence that ingredients other than caffeine enhance physical or cognitive performance [5].
Population
32 articles testing energy drink ingredients alone or with caffeine [5].
Sources
[5]
Caveats
A systematic review without pooled numbers. Pooled trials of caffeine and attention are on the caffeine page.

Amounts studied

The heart trials gave 946 ml (32 ounces) of energy drink within an hour, one of them with 320 mg of caffeine against a caffeinated control drink with the same caffeine [8][9]. The largest rise in systolic blood pressure came with drinks providing 200 mg of caffeine or more [6]. A typical 235 ml drink provides 40 to 250 mg of caffeine [5], and a can or bottle ranges from about 80 to more than 500 mg, against about 100 mg in a 5-ounce cup of coffee [14]. The adverse events review describes 5 to 7 drinks a week as frequent use [11].

Risks

Reported risks6

ModerateVery common

Insomnia, jitteriness and gut upset

Shown to raise the odds of insomnia fivefold and jitteriness 3.5-fold against controls, in pooled studies, with insomnia reported by about a quarter of adult drinkers.

The numbers and sources
How common
Very common: more than 1 in 10 people.
Effect
Energy drinks raised the odds of insomnia (OR 5.02, 95% CI 1.72 to 14.63) and jitteriness or activeness (OR 3.52, 95% CI 1.28 to 9.67) against control groups. In adults the most reported adverse events were jitteriness, restlessness or shaking hands (29.8%), insomnia (24.7%) and gut upset (21.6%). In children they were insomnia (35.4%), stress (35.4%) and depressed mood (23.1%) [11].
Population
96,549 people in 32 clinical studies [11].
Sources
[11]
Caveats
The percentages are shares of drinkers reporting each event, without a matched control rate for each [11].
StrongHow often is not known

Higher blood pressure

Shown to raise systolic blood pressure by about 4.4 to 4.7 mmHg and diastolic by 2.7 to 4.5 mmHg within hours, in pooled studies of single energy drinks.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Across 15 studies, systolic pressure rose 4.44 mmHg (95% CI 2.71 to 6.17) and diastolic 2.73 mmHg (95% CI 1.52 to 3.95) from baseline, and heart rate did not change significantly (0.80 beats a minute). Systolic rose 6.44 mmHg with drinks of 200 mg of caffeine or more [6]. Across 17 randomized trials, systolic pressure rose 4.71 mmHg (95% CI 2.97 to 6.45) at 60 to 80 minutes and diastolic 4.51 mmHg (95% CI 2.60 to 6.42) at 120 minutes [7]. Against a drink with the same 320 mg of caffeine, systolic pressure was higher 6 hours after an energy drink (4.72 against 0.83 mmHg) [8].
Population
About 340 people in 15 studies [6]. Healthy adults in 17 randomized trials [7]. 18 healthy young adults in a crossover trial [8].
Sources
[6], [7], [8]
Caveats
Single drinks measured over hours, not long-term use. Eleven of the 17 trials had some concerns and 6 a high risk of bias [7].
LimitedHow often is not known

Shorter sleep in students

Linked to about twice the risk of short sleep with daily energy drinks in a national survey of 53,266 college and university students.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Daily energy drink use was linked to short sleep duration in men (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.77 to 2.42) and women (RR 1.87, 95% CI 1.64 to 2.14). More frequent use was linked to shorter sleep, lower sleep efficiency, longer time to fall asleep and more waking. 4.7% of men and 3.3% of women drank energy drinks daily [12].
Population
53,266 Norwegian students aged 18 to 35 [12].
Sources
[12]
Caveats
Cross-sectional, so it cannot show which came first. Poor sleepers may drink more energy drinks.
LimitedHow often is not known

Health effects in children and young people

Linked in a systematic review to smoking, alcohol and other substance use, short sleep, low academic performance, ADHD symptoms, suicide risk and dental erosion in people under 21.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Across 57 studies, energy drink use by children and young people was positively associated with smoking, alcohol use, binge drinking and other substance use, sensation-seeking, short sleep, poor sleep quality and low academic performance. Studies also reported higher risk of suicide, psychological distress, ADHD symptoms, depressive and panic behaviors, insulin resistance, dental caries and erosive tooth wear [13]. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that energy drinks have no place in the diet of children and adolescents [2].
Population
Children and young people up to age 21 in 57 studies [13].
Sources
[13], [2]
Caveats
Mostly observational, and the review calls for longitudinal studies to establish cause [13]. Young people who take more risks may also drink more energy drinks.
LimitedHow often is not known

Emergency department visits

US emergency department visits involving energy drinks doubled from 10,068 in 2007 to 20,783 in 2011, a national surveillance report found.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Visits doubled for both men and women. In 2011, 58% of the visits involved energy drinks only and 42% involved other drugs as well. Visits rose 279% among people aged 40 or older [14].
Population
A probability sample of US hospitals in the Drug Abuse Warning Network [14].
Sources
[14]
Caveats
Counts of visits, not a rate per drinker. The report does not give the cause of each visit.
LimitedHow often is not known

Alcohol mixed with energy drinks

Linked to more injury than alcohol alone in a systematic review, and to less sedation and more stimulation in pooled studies.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
Studies that quantified injury risk supported an association between alcohol mixed with energy drinks and increased injury against alcohol only, with substantial variability in methods and outcomes [15]. Alcohol mixed with energy drinks reduced the likelihood of sedation effects and increased stimulatory effects [11].
Population
Studies comparing alcohol mixed with energy drinks with alcohol alone [15]. Clinical studies within a review of 32 [11].
Sources
[15], [11]
Caveats
Observational. People who mix the two may differ in drinking habits and risk-taking [15].

Mixed results1

ModerateHow often is not known

Longer QTc interval on the ECG

Mixed results: two randomized trials found a longer QTc interval after 32 ounces of energy drink, while a pooled analysis of 17 trials found no significant QT change.

The numbers and sources
How common
How often is not known: the sources give no rate.
Effect
In a crossover trial, the largest rise in QTc was 17.9 and 19.6 ms with two energy drinks against 11.9 ms with placebo [9]. Against a caffeinated control drink, QTc 2 hours after the energy drink changed by 0.44 ms against -10.4 ms [8]. Pooled randomized trials found no significant effect on QT or QTc interval or resting heart rate [7]. A review of 43 prospective studies found QTc rose from baseline in all but one, above the pathological limit in two [10].
Population
34 healthy volunteers, mean age 22.1 [9]. 18 healthy young adults [8]. 17 randomized trials [7]. 43 prospective clinical studies [10].
Sources
[9], [8], [7], [10]
Caveats
Small, short trials in healthy young adults measuring an ECG reading, not arrhythmias. Case reports of arrhythmias in teenagers are on the caffeine page.

Claims tested and not found

  1. That energy drinks raise resting heart rate. Pooled randomized trials found no significant effect on resting heart rate [7], and pooled studies a nonsignificant change of 0.80 beats a minute [6].
  2. That energy drinks improve sprinting. Pooled studies found no significant effect on sprint performance (effect size 0.14, p = 0.06) [4].

Related

CaffeineTaurinePre-workout blendsAlcohol

Sources

  1. US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. realfood.gov. 2026. https://cdn.realfood.gov/DGA.pdf
  2. Committee on Nutrition and the Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Sports drinks and energy drinks for children and adolescents: are they appropriate? Pediatrics. 2011. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2011-0965
  3. US Food and Drug Administration. Spilling the Beans: How Much Caffeine is Too Much? FDA Consumer Updates. Content current as of 2024-08-28. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/spilling-beans-how-much-caffeine-too-much
  4. Souza DB, Del Coso J, Casonatto J, Polito MD. Acute effects of caffeine-containing energy drinks on physical performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Nutrition. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-016-1331-9
  5. McLellan TM, Lieberman HR. Do energy drinks contain active components other than caffeine? Nutrition Reviews. 2012. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2012.00525.x
  6. Shah SA, Chu BW, Lacey CS, et al. Impact of Acute Energy Drink Consumption on Blood Pressure Parameters: A Meta-analysis. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1177/1060028016656433
  7. Gualberto PIB, Benvindo VV, Waclawovsky G, Deresz LF. Acute effects of energy drink consumption on cardiovascular parameters in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Nutrition Reviews. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuad112
  8. Fletcher EA, Lacey CS, Aaron M, et al. Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Volume Energy Drink Versus Caffeine Consumption on ECG and Hemodynamic Parameters. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2017. https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.116.004448
  9. Shah SA, Szeto AH, Farewell R, et al. Impact of High Volume Energy Drink Consumption on Electrocardiographic and Blood Pressure Parameters: A Randomized Trial. Journal of the American Heart Association. 2019. https://doi.org/10.1161/jaha.118.011318
  10. Lasheras I, Seral P, Alonso-Ventura V, Santabárbara J. The impact of acute energy drink consumption on electrical heart disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Electrocardiology. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2021.01.020
  11. Nadeem IM, Shanmugaraj A, Sakha S, et al. Energy Drinks and Their Adverse Health Effects: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Sports Health. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/1941738120949181
  12. Kaldenbach S, Hysing M, Strand TA, Sivertsen B. Energy drink consumption and sleep parameters in college and university students: a national cross-sectional study. BMJ Open. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072951
  13. Ajibo C, Van Griethuysen A, Visram S, Lake AA. Consumption of energy drinks by children and young people: a systematic review examining evidence of physical effects and consumer attitudes. Public Health. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2023.08.024
  14. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. The DAWN Report: Update on Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks: A Continuing Public Health Concern. SAMHSA. 2013-01-10. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DAWN126/DAWN126/sr126-energy-drinks-use.htm
  15. Roemer A, Stockwell T. Alcohol Mixed With Energy Drinks and Risk of Injury: A Systematic Review. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2017. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.2017.78.175

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