Energy Products Linked to Possible Heart Risk

Preliminary research ties caffeinated drinks and supplements to cardiac events, though the study has not been peer reviewed.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Nutrition

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a tall energy-drink can and a squat supplement jar side by side on a matte surface beneath a thin unmarked wave curve. — Preliminary research linking caffeinated energy drinks and supplements to heart events, presented at the American Heart Association's 2026 Scientific Sessions, has not been peer reviewed, the Council for Responsible Nutrition said. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) challenged preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026 that linked caffeinated energy drinks and supplements to cardiovascular events. The study has not undergone peer review, and CRN's challenge was published November 3, 2026, with the research of particular relevance to adults who regularly use energy products.

Why it matters

The research adds to ongoing questions about whether stimulant-containing products pose cardiovascular risks for regular users, a concern that matters for anyone who relies on energy drinks or supplements. CRN's response highlights that the study grouped products with very different ingredients, making it hard to tell which, if any, are responsible for the reported events.

This is preliminary adverse event report research that has not been peer reviewed, so its findings have not been independently checked. Because the study grouped energy drinks, concentrated energy shots and dietary supplements with varying ingredients, and did not account for dosage, frequency, or other caffeine sources, the reported 11-fold difference in cardiac arrest reporting cannot be attributed to any specific product or ingredient.

The players

Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN)

CRN is a trade association representing dietary supplement and nutrition ingredient companies, and it set voluntary industry guidelines on labeling, safety advisories and responsible consumption more than a decade ago.

American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a leading cardiovascular health organization that funds research and publishes heart-health guidance, and it hosted the Scientific Sessions where the preliminary research was presented.

Andrea Wong

Andrea Wong is CRN's chief science officer, responsible for the organization's scientific positions on supplement and nutrition product safety.

The details

Adverse event reports are submitted when a health problem is associated with a product, but a report alone does not establish that the product caused the problem. The research examined such reports for caffeine-containing products and stimulants, and it was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026. Ephedra, DMAA, and higenamine cannot legally be marketed in conventional foods or dietary supplements under applicable federal requirements, which means they are not part of the lawful product mix the research was assessing.

2026: The preliminary research was presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2026.
November 3, 2026: CRN's challenge to the research was published.

Health Landscape

Caffeinated energy products sit under a voluntary industry framework for labeling and responsible consumption that was set more than a decade ago. This new preliminary research revisits that framework by asking whether those guidelines still address cardiovascular concerns raised by products that combine caffeine with other stimulants.

If you regularly use caffeinated energy drinks, concentrated energy shots or stimulant-containing supplements, this research is worth noting but not yet a reason to change habits. It is worth discussing your intake, including other caffeine sources, with your doctor, especially if you have a heart condition or take other medications.

The takeaway

The key insight is that this study is preliminary, unreviewed, and unable to pinpoint which products or ingredients drove the reported events. If you use these products, consider reviewing your total daily caffeine intake from all sources and bring the question to your physician.