A pharmacist has sounded the alarm to fitness enthusiasts about the potential risks associated with popular pre-workout powders, highlighting the severe damage they may inflict on heart health. Many of these supplements, which are marketed as energy boosters, contain alarming levels of caffeine.
Lauren O’Reilly, an Ireland-based drug expert, cautions that long-term consumption of these products could lead to dangerously high blood pressure and heart rhythm irregularities. In a TikTok video that has garnered over 82,000 views, Ms. O’Reilly expressed her concerns, stating she ‘wouldn’t touch’ the powders.
‘They contain over 300mg [of caffeine] per scoop or per serving, which is the same as having three cups of coffee all at once,’ she explained. The immediate effects can induce anxiety, jitters, and heart palpitations, showcasing the pressure that such high caffeine intake places on the heart and vascular system.
‘Over time this can do real damage,’ she warned.
Healthcare professionals have consistently raised concerns about high caffeine doses, especially in individuals with undiagnosed heart rhythm issues. Caffeine is known to trigger hormonal releases that elevate heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to atrial fibrillation—a condition characterized by irregular heartbeats that significantly increases the risk of heart attack or heart failure.
This warning comes in light of a previous alert from the Government’s Food Standards Agency regarding caffeinated workout supplements. The agency issued a caution following the tragic death of a 29-year-old man who died of cardiac arrest after mistakenly overdosing on caffeine powder. Personal trainer Thomas Mansfield suffered fatal consequences in January 2021 after consuming a mixture containing seven times the recommended daily caffeine dose. Witnesses reported that moments after ingesting the supplement, he lost control and began ‘frothing at the mouth’ while clutching his chest. An inquest revealed he had ingested nearly 16 times the packet’s listed maximum dosage.
‘The dose he took was the equivalent of up to 200 cups of coffee,’ the FSA highlighted in its warning, emphasizing the dangers of such extreme caffeine intake. Alarmingly, a survey revealed that fewer than half of consumers examine dosage guidelines on supplements.
In her latest statement, pharmacist Lauren O’Reilly noted that the fine print on many products typically advises ‘for occasional use only.’
‘People take these all the time and these are so, so dangerous,’ she stressed. ‘And look, you’ll see loads of warnings there. So, yeah, these are a massive no from me.’ Instead, she suggested that a simple banana consumed 30 minutes before a workout could provide sufficient energy.
The FSA recommends limiting caffeine intake to no more than 400mg per day, approximately equal to four cups of coffee. Additionally, in 2023, several lawsuits were filed in the U.S. against Panera Bread over its highly caffeinated ‘Charged Lemonade’ drink, which allegedly led to health issues for some consumers, including a 28-year-old Rhode Island woman who claimed to have developed long-term heart problems after drinking multiple servings of the beverage.
Lauren Skerritt reported experiencing palpitations and dizziness after consuming two-and-a-half Charged Lemonades in April 2022. Legal documents reveal she later developed atrial fibrillation. This situation follows the tragic case of a 21-year-old Pennsylvania college student who reportedly suffered a fatal cardiac arrest after consuming the lemonade, which contains 390mg of caffeine. The student had previously been diagnosed with long QT syndrome, a serious heart condition characterized by arrhythmia.
Dr. Stuart Fischer, an internal medicine physician in New York, has elaborated on the risks of caffeine for patients with conditions like long QT syndrome, explaining that it can disrupt the necessary intervals between heartbeats. ‘If there is too much activity when the muscle needs to relax, it can be potentially fatal or at least a major medical emergency,’ he cautioned, noting that even 100mg of caffeine, equivalent to a large cup of coffee, could trigger a life-threatening episode.
