Builder, 50, develops HEPATITIS ‘after drinking five energy drinks a day’

DOWNING too many energy drinks could trigger acute hepatitis, doctors warned today.

It comes as a 50-year-old man was diagnosed with the disease after drinking five of the drinks a day, for three weeks.

It comes a week after a study revealed a cocktail of Red Bull and alcohol triggers changes to the brain, similar to those when a teenager takes cocaine.

Doctors who treated the builder revealed he complained of feeling generally unwell, he had developed anorexia, and abdominal pain which led to nausea and vomiting.

To start with the patient thought he was battling a bout of flu.

But, he became alarmed when he noticed his pee was a dark yellow, and he was suffering jaundice.

The report, written by experts at the University of Florida and published today in the journal BMJ Case Reports, said the patient didn’t tell doctors of any changes to his diet, or use of booze, fags and drugs.

The only notable change was the man was drinking the energy drink, to help him get through his labour-intensive day.

When doctors examined the 50-year-old, they noted he was suffering jaundice, and his stomach was tender to touch.

Lab tests revealed high levels of liver enzymes, called transaminases, which is a sign of liver damage, and a sign of chronic hepatitis C infection.

A liver biopsy showed the man was suffering severe acute hepatitis.

Doctors treating the man, wrote in their report: “The development of acute hepatitis in this patient was likely secondary to excessive energy drink consumption.”

In particular the high quantity of vitamin B3, niacin, is thought to be to blame, they said.

The patient was guzzling around 160-200mg of niacin a day – below the threshold that’s expected to cause toxicity, but a similar level to that previously reported in links with hepatitis (around 300mg of niacin a day).

The doctors said toxicity is made worse by long-term consumption.

Each bottle of the man’s energy drink contained around 40mg of niacin – 200 per cent of the recommended daily amount.

The development of acute hepatitis in this patient was likely secondary to excessive energy drink consumption

Authors, University of Florida College of Medicine

Doctors stopped the patient’s supply of energy drinks, and offered supportive treatment.

And they advised he steer clear of the drinks – and other forms of niacin – in future.

Around 50 per cent of cases of liver failure in the US are due to drug induced liver injury, explain the doctors. The list of associated drugs and toxins has significantly grown as the market for dietary and herbal supplements continues to rapidly expand.

Estimates suggest approximately 23,000 emergency department visits each year are due to adverse events related to dietary supplements.

“As the energy drink market continues to rapidly expand, consumers should be aware of the potential risks of their various ingredients,” the authors concluded.

“Vitamins and nutrients, such as niacin are present in quantities that greatly exceed the recommended daily intake, lending to their high risk for harmful accumulation and toxicity.”

Earlier this month scientists from Donegal Mental Health Service found an additive in Red Bull, taurine, improves the symptoms in young people suffering their first episode of psychosis.