Can Excessive Amounts Of Energy Drinks Adversely Affect The Kidneys Or Liver?

When you're feeling sluggish or tired, it can be tempting to reach for a bottled energy drink. These beverages typically contain caffeine, sugar, amino acids and herbal supplements designed to boost your energy and keep you alert. In large quantities, energy drinks can be harmful to your health. Discuss your use of energy drinks with a physician to determine whether they are safe for you.

Physiology

Your liver and kidneys are important organs that help your body maintain a constant internal environment. The liver breaks down, stores, produces and releases a number of molecules, including fats, proteins, carbohydrates and amino acids. One of the liver's main functions is to detoxify your body by breaking down chemicals from your food and drink. The kidneys filter your blood and maintain appropriate electrolyte levels.

Consuming energy drinks causes your liver and kidneys to work harder to keep your internal environment balanced. These drinks often contain sugar, taurine, caffeine, guarana, ginseng and other ingredients that must be broken down and excreted by your liver and kidneys.

Children and Adolescents

School-age children sometimes take energy drinks to help them concentrate, study or stay up late. The long-term effects of energy drinks on pediatric health have not been established, but some medical professionals worry that the beverages may have adverse effects. A 2011 study by researchers at the University of Miami found that drinking energy drinks has caused kidney and liver damage in adolescents and young adults.

Renal Failure

Energy drinks can be especially dangerous for people with renal failure or other kidney problems. Many drinks contain taurine, an amino acid found in your skeletal muscle, cardiac tissue and nervous system. According to research by Mohamed Suliman of the Hiddinge University Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, patients with renal failure who consume energy drinks may accumulate excess amounts of taurine in their bodies. Symptoms of excess taurine included dizziness and vertigo. The long-term effects of energy drink consumption in people with renal failure are unknown. Discuss your energy drink consumption with your doctor to see if the drinks are safe for you.

Healthy Adults

Many healthy adults can drink small amounts of energy drinks without experiencing ill effects. In large quantities, however, energy drinks might cause you to develop kidney or liver problems. In 2011, a woman reported to the Staten Island University Hospital after consuming 10 cans of an energy drink for 14 consecutive days. Doctors concluded that she had jaundice, indicating that her liver was failing. Before beginning to take energy drinks, discuss your health with a physician to determine whether they are safe for you.