Energy Drink Causes Blood Cancer: A recent study by researchers at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Institute has raised concerns over taurine, a popular ingredient found in many energy drinks like Red Bull and Celsius, and its potential link to blood cancers such as leukemia. The study suggests that taurine, an amino acid naturally present in foods like meat, fish, and eggs, can act as a fuel source for leukemia cells, promoting their rapid growth in the bone marrow.
Leukemia is a cancer that originates in the bone marrow and leads to the uncontrolled production of abnormal white blood cells. According to the study, taurine supports leukemia cells by enhancing a process called glycolysis—the breakdown of glucose to generate energy—allowing cancer cells to grow and multiply quickly.
While taurine is naturally produced by the human body and has been used to help reduce chemotherapy side effects in leukemia patients, the new findings indicate that additional intake through supplements or energy drinks might actually worsen the disease. The study emphasizes the need for leukemia patients and regular consumers of energy drinks to carefully evaluate the risks and benefits of taurine consumption.
Scientists conducted experiments on mice implanted with human leukemia cells, focusing on the SLC6A6 gene responsible for transporting taurine in the body. The research found that healthy bone marrow cells produce taurine, which is then transferred to leukemia cells via this gene, fueling their growth. Importantly, when taurine entry into cells was blocked, the progression of leukemia slowed down, highlighting taurine’s critical role in the disease’s development.
This discovery opens up promising new avenues for cancer treatment, as targeting taurine transport in leukemia cells could offer a novel strategy to combat this aggressive form of blood cancer. Although still in early stages, the study’s authors are optimistic about future therapies that could limit taurine’s availability to cancer cells.
Given taurine’s widespread use in energy drinks worldwide, the researchers advise consumers to exercise caution and be aware of the potential risks. With thousands of new leukemia cases diagnosed annually—such as the 5,202 reported in Australia in 2022—understanding and managing dietary and supplemental taurine intake could become an important part of cancer prevention and treatment strategies.