Are Energy Drinks a Trigger for Atrial Fibrillation (Afib)?

Drinks claiming to improve ability and energy have been around for decades, if not centuries, in one form or another. These tonics have offered various beneficial claims, and some have been truer to their claims than others. The quest for the perfect energy drink took on a whole new life in modern times, with sales of modern energy drinks reaching tens of billions of dollars and seemingly having no end – some estimate that the market for energy drinks will be well over $100 billion on the next decade or two. If you go to your local grocery store, you’ve undoubtedly seen dozens of energy drinks, many of which you may not recognize. The days of only one or two large players in the market have yielded immense competition and an unbelievable amount of marketing.

Energy drinks come in many forms and advertise various ingredients as the key to their effectiveness, whether sugar, caffeine, taurine, or other compounds; each seems to have an angle. Today, some energy drinks are marketed as healthy, even claiming to promote net calorie burn and possible associated weight loss benefits. Let’s jump into some of the most common ingredients in energy drinks and whether they trigger atrial fibrillation (Afib).

Caffeine

We’ve discussed this in a previous blog post and video, but caffeine has no causal effect on atrial fibrillation. This has been studied for up to four to five cups of caffeine daily. However, more research needs to be performed on excessive consumption of caffeine. By this, we mean quickly drinking one or more highly caffeinated products, like energy drinks. This overstimulation may cause heart rhythm issues, but for now, more research remains to be performed. One study evaluated a single Afib patient who had consumed two energy drinks and developed Afib and related symptoms. However, these studies must be taken with a grain of salt as there are many possible contributing factors and few participants.¹

Sugar

While many energy drinks have eliminated sugar in favor of artificial sweeteners, there are still plenty of energy drinks, and we can include many sodas in this category, introducing a significant amount of sugar into the diet. A recent 2024 study has shown that drinking more than 2 liters of sweetened beverages per week can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation.² It’s important to remember that the sugar concentration will make a difference. Lower-sugar drinks may marginally increase risk, while extremely high-sugar drinks may accelerate the risk. In the study mentioned above, sugar-sweetened drinks caused a 10% higher risk of developing Afib.

Artificial Sweetener

Interestingly, the same 2024 study mentioned above found that artificially sweetened drinks increased the risk of atrial fibrillation by 20% – even more than sugar-sweetened beverages. The reason for this needs to be clarified, but it may have something to do with artificial sweeteners being much more potent than regular sugar. Many patients who consume these sweeteners do so at far higher levels than needed and, as a result, desensitize their taste buds, increasing the chance that they may eat heavily sweetened or high-salt foods throughout the day.

Fruit Juice

Some fruit juices are protective of atrial fibrillation despite their sugar content. Typically, high-sugar juices like orange juice and apple juice should be avoided. However, juices that retain the benefit of some fiber or certain juices that introduce blood pressure-lowering chemical components may be beneficial. For example, some research shows that a combination of fresh beets and carrot juice cocktail can be helpful both in blood pressure levels and in reducing the risk of Afib. Be sure to read the labels on the juice carton. Some contain very little juice and are primarily made of water and high fructose corn syrup. When possible, squeeze your juice from the fruit or vegetable. Ideally, for a nutritional boost, incorporate low glycemic index foods, fruits, and vegetables into a smoothie that retains the all-important fiber.

Hydration

You may think that drinking energy drinks improves your hydration, and to some degree, this is true. However, we must consider the significant downsides of the other components of what we consume. Hydration is not created equally; ultimately, the less sugar and additives contained in the beverage, the better. For example, drinking water with a fruit or vegetable essence may introduce the taste you like without the calories and sugar that may ultimately be detrimental.

Obesity & Type 2 Diabetes

On a similar note, while some energy drinks may not directly cause an arrhythmia, we have to evaluate their follow-on effects in the form of promoting excess weight, obesity, and ultimately type 2 diabetes. Sugar and artificial sweeteners have been shown to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Caffeine, in some, can trigger overeating, which can lead to obesity and, ultimately, a longer-term risk of atrial fibrillation. As such, be sure you understand how you react to sugar and caffeine to ensure you aren’t setting yourself up for health problems in the future.

The Bottom Line

There are many potential causes of Afib stemming from energy drink consumption, depending on the quantity and composition of the drink itself. Most importantly, if you do experience any irregular heartbeat or unusual symptoms after drinking an energy drink, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible. If you only feel an irregular heartbeat occasionally, you may wish to use a recent-model Apple watch or other heart rhythm-tracking wearable to check for Afib on the fly and track episodes. However, you should always be under the care of an experienced electrophysiologist like Dr. Osorio.

¹Hanif M, Saleem S, Naz S, Sundas F. Energy Drinks and Atrial Fibrillation: An Unusual Case of Caution. Cureus. 2020 Oct 5;12(10):e10807. doi: 10.7759/cureus.10807. PMID: 33163311; PMCID: PMC7641491.

²Sun Y, Yu B, Yu Y, et al. Sweetened beverages, genetic susceptibility, and incident atrial fibrillation: a prospective cohort study. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2024;17(3):e012145. doi:10.1161/CIRCEP.123.012145