A 50-year-old man arrives in Florida with symptoms of acute hepatitis. The cause of his complaints might have to do with his drink consumption.

[Queen Esther]

Updated on 07 November 2016, 11:43

A 50-year-old man arrives in Florida with symptoms of acute hepatitis. The cause of his complaints might have to do with his drink consumption.

Nausea, abdominal pain, yellow-colored skin and dark urine: A 50-year-old American is delivered with symptoms of an acute hepatic inflammation to a hospital in Florida. The vitamin B values in his liver are extremely high - and the diagnosis is confirmed quickly with a biopsy.

But what caused suffering was still a mystery. As the responsible physicians write in the "BMJ Case Journal", there were neither signs of a viral infection, nor excessive alcohol consumption or drugs - the usual triggers of acute hepatitis.
Because of stress to grab energy drinks!
After several examinations, the team around Jennifer Harb from the College of Medicine at the University of Florida came up with a direction: The man had consumed four to five energy drinks a day for three weeks in order to withstand stress in his or her professional life.

The condition of the man improved rapidly as the 50-year-old in the hospital gave up the guards - for his doctors another indication that his illness was triggered by his excessive consumption.
Studies are missing, unhealthy are you drinks anyway

According to "spektrum.de", besides this hepatitis case, at least two more have been brought in connection with energy drinks. Although there have been no studies to date, the relatively high vitamin B3 content (niacin) in the beverages seems to increase the risk of liver disease.

According to the list of ingredients of its energy drink brand, the diseased American American consumed 40 to 50 milligrams of niacin per day - about 200 milligrams per day. Harmful effects of niacin have so far been known only from a daily dose of 500 milligrams.

In addition, the researchers suspect that in the case of known cases more triggers were added. Which drinks they have consumed is not known.