Energy Drink Ingredient Flagged in New Cancer Study
New research suggests a key energy drink ingredient may do more harm than good for those battling leukemia.
A new study has raised serious concerns about taurine, a common ingredient found in energy drinks and dietary supplements. According to research published this week in Nature, taurine may “significantly accelerate disease progression” in cases of leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
Taurine, an amino acid naturally found in meat and fish, is widely used for its ability to help regulate fluids and minerals in the body. It’s also a key ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull and is sometimes recommended to chemotherapy patients to help manage treatment side effects. But this new study suggests it could pose a dangerous risk to those fighting blood cancers.
Researchers at the University of Rochester observed that taurine may play a role in fueling leukemia cells. In mouse models, taurine supplementation was shown to increase the likelihood of death by nearly threefold. The amino acid appeared to activate glycolysis—a process that breaks down glucose for energy—giving leukemia cells an energy boost that sped up disease progression.
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“As taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks, and is often provided as a supplement to mitigate the side effects of chemotherapy,” the researchers wrote, “our work suggests that it may be of interest to carefully consider the benefits of supplemental taurine in patients with leukemia.”
The findings are especially concerning given taurine’s reputation as a safe, even helpful supplement. Previous studies have praised its antioxidant properties and suggested it could protect against the toxic effects of chemotherapy. However, this new data suggests its impact may vary significantly depending on the type of illness being treated.
So far, companies have not released statements on the study's findings. But this study may be a wake-up call for anyone regularly reaching for an energy drink, especially those undergoing cancer treatment.
