A GP has sounded the alarm over the potential dangers of frequent energy drink consumption, warning that it could lead to severe kidney damage. This cautionary advice could be pertinent for nearly two million Brits, as statistics reveal that 1.98m people in the UK regularly indulge in these beverages at least twice a week.
London-based GP, Doctor Sermed Mezher, took to TikTok to elaborate on the risks. He was responding to another TikToker’s video about her personal experience, in a post that read: “When one energy drink per week turned to one per day, turns into surgery on your kidneys.”
Dr Mezher outlined three ways in which energy drinks can wreak havoc on our kidneys. He explained: “First we know that, especially in susceptible people, the high caffeine content can crank up your blood pressure, which over time will damage our hidden horseshoes. “
He continued: “Many people also have these energy drinks as a more interesting alternative to water thinking that they’re getting hydrated but also don’t realise that the caffeine can have a diuretic effect, meaning that it makes the body lose more water than it would do otherwise. If we don’t compensate for that by increasing our liquid intake, then again that can damage the kidneys.”
He cautioned: “We also know this liquid lightning has unprecedented amounts of sugar inside, which we know if somebody’s predisposed to diabetes, can crank up those [blood sugar] levels.”
In a caption accompanying the video, he elaborated: “Caffeine and other additives, such as taurine and guarana, can cause blood vessels to constrict and elevate heart rate, placing extra stress on the kidneys. Prolonged high blood pressure is a well-known risk factor for kidney disease, as it damages the small blood vessels within the kidneys, impairing their function.”
Nevertheless, he reassured viewers that enjoying these beverages in moderation should not pose a significant risk. He added: “And again over time, damage the kidneys, occasional use is all right, but let’s not go overboard.”
His words of caution are backed by a real-life case study published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports in 2020. The case study detailed the experience of a 62-year-old American woman who suffered from progressive weakness, fatigue, confusion, and delirium due to acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis linked to “excessive energy drink use”.
The authors of the case study observed: “Clinical improvement occurred with supportive care and discontinuation of energy drinks, with resolution of acute kidney injury and progressive improvement of liver function. The defined mechanism of injury is unknown but thought due to energy drink ingredients.”
The health experts went on to caution: “In the USA, energy drinks are commonly consumed among adults. The side effects of these drinks are not well studied but consumers have reported multiple adverse events to the US Food and Drug Administration including acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis.”