Table 1.

Summary of negative health effects of energy drinks (ED).

Category of health effects	Major effects observed
Risk-seeking behaviors	Substance abuse: alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, amphetamines (32, 35) Aggressive behavior: fighting, bullying, truancy (35)
Mental health effects	Stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, plan or attempt (33, 36, 37) Low academic achievement (35)
Adverse cardiovascular effects	Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure (39, 41) Increased heart rate (39)
Adverse metabolic, dental, or renal effectsa	Overweight/obesity risk (44, 47–49) Risk of metabolic/type 2 diabetes (48) Dental decay (51, 52) Renal microvascular damage and accelerated progression of chronic kidney disease (53–55)
Other health effects	Sleep dissatisfaction, tiredness/fatigue, late bedtime, headaches, stomachaches and irritation (35, 56–59)

^aThe evidence for adverse metabolic and dental effects comes from studies on sugar-sweetened beverages in general; ED are often classified as such as they contain added sugar.