Energy drinks may cause serious kidney damage

Energy drinks have serious effects on kidney health, and a doctor has warned that excessive consumption of them may lead to serious damage that is difficult to treat.

Dr. Sermed Mazhar, a London-based GP, posted a video on TikTok explaining the potential health risks of these drinks.

This came in response to a previous video posted by a user, who said: "When one energy drink a week turns into one a day, you might end up with kidney surgery."

Mazhar explained that energy drinks may harm the kidneys in three main ways:

• high blood pressure

Many energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine, which can significantly raise blood pressure, damaging the small blood vessels in the kidneys in the long term.

• drought

Some people think that energy drinks provide hydration, but in reality they can lead to dehydration due to the diuretic effect of caffeine, which increases fluid loss. Failure to replace this loss by drinking enough water can lead to kidney fatigue and weaken its function.

• high sugar levels

Most energy drinks contain large amounts of sugar, which can raise blood sugar levels, especially in people at risk for diabetes, increasing the burden on the kidneys.

Mazhar pointed out that some of the added ingredients in energy drinks, such as taurine and guarana, may cause blood vessels to constrict and heart rate to increase, which leads to additional pressure on the kidneys.

He added that chronic high blood pressure is one of the most prominent risk factors for kidney disease, because it causes damage to the small blood vessels inside them, which leads to a decline in their function over time.

Mazhar's warning is supported by a case study published in Medical Case Reports, which examined the case of a 62-year-old American woman who developed acute kidney failure and acute hepatitis due to excessive consumption of energy drinks.

The report showed that her health condition improved after she stopped drinking these drinks and underwent treatment.

The study authors noted that the exact mechanism by which energy drinks harm the kidneys is still not fully understood, but it is attributed to the effect of their various components.

They also noted that the FDA has received numerous reports of serious health problems associated with these drinks, including acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis.

Dr. Mazhar stressed that moderate consumption of energy drinks does not pose a significant risk, but excessive consumption may cause serious health damage.

Source: Mirror