Popular energy drink ingredient — includes Red Bull and Celsius — elevates risk of blood cancer, researchers say
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Energy drink warning as ingredient linked to cancer
- A study published in Nature suggests taurine, an ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull, may increase the risk of blood cancers.
- Researchers found leukaemia cells absorb taurine to fuel their growth through glycolysis.
- While taurine is naturally produced in the body, excessive intake through energy drinks and supplements could exacerbate leukaemia, the study found.
- Researchers used mice with the SLC6A6 gene, which transports taurine, and found healthy bone marrow cells may inadvertently feed leukaemia cells with taurine.
- They suggest that blocking taurine uptake in leukaemia cells could lead to new treatments.