Can Energy Drinks Damage Your Kidneys?

Energy drinks are any beverage that is promoted to increase energy, alertness or athletic performance. While some of the ingredients in most energy drinks may indeed increase your energy levels, these same ingredients can also be harmful to your kidneys, especially if you are consuming them in large quantities. The main energy-producing ingredients in many energy drinks are taurine, caffeine and sugar. Talk to your doctor about energy drinks and these ingredients before drinking them, especially if you suffer from weak or damaged kidneys.

Taurine

Taurine is an amino acid found in high quantities naturally throughout your body and is needed for many different bodily functions. Taurine is often included in energy drinks due to its potential energy-producing effect, even though there is limited scientific evidence to support this rationale, according to a 2002 study published in the "Oxford Journal of Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation." In this study, researchers found that taurine in energy drinks can accelerate kidney damage in patients who suffer from kidney disease.

Caffeine

Caffeine is the most widely used ingredient in the majority of energy drinks because it has been scientifically shown to stimulate energy and increase mental alertness and athletic performance, according to the book, " Essentials of Sports Nutrition and Supplements." Energy drinks can cause a caffeine overdose because some energy drinks may contain as much as three times the amount of caffeine found in soda, according to an article in "The Clinical Advisor." Long-term supplementation with caffeine can cause kidney damage and renal system failure.

Sugar

Sugar, usually in the form of dextrose, is one of the primary ingredients of many energy drinks. A high intake of simple sugars, such as dextrose, can cause wild swings in your blood sugar levels. This not only places stress on your pancreas, which produces the insulin hormone, but it also places stress on your kidneys. Your kidneys are responsible for not only filtering out toxins in your blood stream, but excess water as well. Dextrose promotes water retention, which makes it difficult for your kidneys to function optimally.

Recommendations

Energy drinks should never be consumed by children or adolescents due to the potential risk of a variety of side effects, the American Academy of Pediatrics states. While the Food and Drug Administration has yet to offer any specific guidelines for energy drink consumption, MayoClinic.com states that they can be acceptable, but only when used in moderation. Always talk to your doctor first before using energy drinks to boost energy.