A GP has issued a disturbing warning to anyone who regularly consumes energy drinks. According to the expert, excessive intake of these beverages could lead to serious kidney damage.

This could spell bad news for almost two million Brits, with showing 1.98m people in the UK enjoy these drinks two or more times a week. London-based GP took to social media platform TikTok to explain more.

He provided advice in response to another content creator’s video about her own experience. “When one energy drink per week turned to one per day, turns into surgery on your kidneys,” the original video said.

Dr Mezher then explained there are three different ways energy drinks can damage the organs. He said: “First we know that, especially in susceptible people, the high caffeine content can crank up your , which over time will damage our hidden horseshoes.

“Many people also have these energy drinks as a more interesting alternative to water thinking that they're getting hydrated but also don't realise that the caffeine can have a diuretic effect, meaning that it makes the body lose more water than it would do otherwise. If we don't compensate for that by increasing our liquid intake, then again that can damage the kidneys.

“We also know this liquid lightning has unprecedented amounts of sugar inside, which we know if somebody's predisposed to diabetes, can crank up those [blood sugar] levels.” In a caption under the video he further clarified: “Caffeine and other additives, such as taurine and guarana, can cause blood vessels to constrict and elevate heart rate, placing extra stress on the kidneys.

“Prolonged high blood pressure is a well-known risk factor for kidney disease, as it damages the small blood vessels within the kidneys, impairing their function.” However, he advised that consuming these drinks in moderation should be fine.

He added: “And again over time, damage the kidneys, occasional use is all right, but let's not go overboard.” His warning is supported by a real life case study, published in the in 2020.

In this report, a 62-year-old American woman presented with progressive weakness, fatigue, confusion, and delirium secondary to acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis associated with “excessive energy drink use”. Case study authors noted: “Clinical improvement occurred with supportive care and discontinuation of energy drinks, with resolution of acute kidney injury and progressive improvement of liver function.

“The defined mechanism of injury is unknown but thought due to energy drink ingredients.” They added: “In the USA, energy drinks are commonly consumed among adults. The side effects of these drinks are not well studied but consumers have reported multiple adverse events to the US Food and Drug Administration including acute kidney injury and acute hepatitis.”