Energy Drinks' Effect on Kidneys and Health

Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology | March 20, 2025

Energy drinks have become quite popular among adults. If you pay a quick visit to the nearest beverage store, you will see how people stock up on these caffeine-loaded drinks. The popularity, however, raises a concern about the health effects of energy drinks.

Is the quick energy boost you get from Coke and other energy boosters actually worth it? Is caffeine bad for the kidneys? Or, are the side effects of energy drinks too much for your health? If you have questions regarding the impact of energy drinks on your health, you are in the right place.

In this post, we will explore the connection between energy drinks and kidney health. Let’s see how caffeinated beverages, which are advertised as energy boosters, affect your kidneys and overall health.

Ingredients in Energy Drinks

To understand the effect of energy drinks on your health, it’s important to know the ingredients. Although the ingredients and their concentration might vary in each drink, most have a few common ones that are harmful to your health:

The risk of UTI during pregnancy’s first trimester, up to 24 weeks, is the highest, as that’s when the uterus starts growing. The fetus puts pressure on the bladder, making it difficult for the pregnant woman to empty it completely. Bacteria thrive well in the bladder when there’s residual urine. Another cause of UTI during pregnancy is the suppressed immune system. Pregnancy suppresses your immune system to protect your baby. This reduces your body’s ability to fight infection.

Caffeine

If you are one of those people whose days can’t start without a cup of coffee, you are not alone. Caffeine in coffee gives an instant energy boost, preventing drowsiness and helping you get physically and mentally alert. Caffeine is also a primary ingredient in energy drinks. The only difference is that, in energy drinks, caffeine is present in an incredibly large amount compared to that in coffee.

Too much caffeine, especially if you have it every day, can put unnecessary strain on your kidneys. It raises blood pressure, which makes your kidneys and other organs work harder than usual. Over time, this strain can lead to chronic kidney diseases, including kidney failure. The risk is particularly higher in adults with hypertension and existing kidney diseases.

Sugar

Another ingredient that’s added in large quantities in energy drinks is sugar. Rockstar drink, for instance, comes in a 16-ounce can, which has around 60 grams of sugar. That’s equivalent to 12 teaspoons of sugar. Now, if you drink two cans of this energy drink a day, you are consuming 120 grams of sugar. Even a single can of Rockstar or a similar energy drink can exceed the recommended sugar intake for the day. Doing it regularly can increase your risk of weight gain, insulin resistance, and other health problems.

Taurine

Taurine is a form of protein that’s naturally found in your heart, brain, and kidneys. It’s essential for your kidney function, as it helps regulate calcium levels, maintain blood pressure, and reduce oxidative stress. That said, too much taurine, especially when combined with caffeine and sugar, can be harmful.

When it’s consumed with caffeine, for instance, it can overwhelm your kidneys and interfere with the filtration process. Besides, taurine found in energy drinks is also linked to increased blood pressure, which may eventually harm your kidneys. The effects are worse on patients with chronic kidney diseases.

Side Effects of Energy Drinks on Kidneys

We’ve already established the link between caffeine and chronic kidney disease. Let’s see how other ingredients in these energy boosters can pose a threat to your kidneys and overall health in the long run.

Dehydration

Caffeine is a diuretic, which means it increases the frequency of urination. This can possibly lead to excessive fluid loss from the body, putting people at risk of dehydration. The risk is notably higher in athletes and those involved in strenuous physical activities.

Dehydration reduces blood supply to the kidneys, impairing their ability to filter out toxins from the blood effectively. As a result, the kidneys work harder to maintain the normal electrolyte balance. Excessive consumption of energy drinks can cause acute kidney disease, in which your kidneys do not function as efficiently as the kidneys of a healthy adult.

Kidney Stones

The most significant risk of dehydration is kidney stones, which are more likely in people with concentrated urine. Sugar-loaded beverages increase the calcium content in your urine, which is further aggravated by dehydration. Less urine output with a high calcium concentration can lead to crystal formation. Kidney stones can be small, like a pea, or big enough to block your ureters or the entire urinary tract. This can lead to infections. Kidney stones cause excruciating pain. They also increase your risk of developing kidney diseases, especially if left untreated.

High Blood Pressure

As mentioned earlier, caffeine combined with sugar can spike your blood pressure. If that happens frequently, there’s a risk your blood vessels can get damaged. Damaged blood vessels prevent proper blood circulation through your kidneys, which, in turn, affects your kidneys’ function. This can lead to chronic kidney disease over time, which can ultimately cause kidney failure. In addition to kidneys, high blood pressure is linked to many cardiovascular issues. It can cause aneurysms, stroke, heart attack, dementia, obesity, and nerve damage.

Diabetes-related Kidney Issues

Insulin resistance and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes increase drastically in people consuming excessive amounts of energy drinks. These sugar-loaded drinks do not just increase your risk of having diabetes, but they can lead to kidney-related complications in diabetic patients.

Elevated blood sugar damages small blood vessels in your kidneys, which, as mentioned previously, can impair your kidneys' blood filtration ability. Diabetic nephropathy is another complication of uncontrolled blood sugar levels. It can result in kidney failure.

Electrolyte Imbalance

One of the key functions of your kidneys is maintaining the electrolyte balance. Energy drinks might be good at keeping you up and active for the day, but the high caffeine, taurine, and sugar content in these drinks can significantly affect your electrolyte balance. Caffeine, specifically, results in the loss of essential nutrients like potassium and calcium. Taurine, on the other hand, disrupts electrolyte function.

Contact Us

The Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology (AINU) is India’s leading urology and nephrology care center. We offer advanced urology care, including robot-assisted urologic surgeries. We believe in offering world-class medical facilities to patients diagnosed with kidney-related issues. Contact us for the most suitable treatment plan and a smooth recovery.