Common Energy Drink Ingredient Linked to Blood Cancer

 Taurine was found to “significantly accelerate disease progression” in a new study of the supplement, commonly given to chemotherapy patients

By 

Cara Lynn Shultz

Cara Lynn Shultz

Cara Lynn Shultz is a writer-reporter at PEOPLE. Her work has previously appeared in Billboard and Reader's Digest.

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Updated on May 16, 2025 10:46AM EDT

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NEED TO KNOW

• Taurine has been linked with the progression of the blood cancer leukemia, according to new research published in Nature
• The amino acid may fuel cancer cells, with researchers saying it was found to "significantly accelerate disease progression"
• Researchers said, given its inclusion in energy drinks and often as a supplement, "it may be of interest to carefully consider" having leukemia patients consume taurine

A common energy drink ingredient has been linked to the progression of the blood cancer leukemia, prompting researchers to voice concerns about the consumption of those beverages.

Taurine — an amino acid that occurs naturally in proteins like meat and fish — is a common ingredient in energy drinks like Red Bull. As the Mayo Clinic explains it can help balance fluids, salts and minerals. 

PEOPLE has reached out to Red Bull for comment.

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But according to research published in Nature, taurine may promote leukaemogenesis — the development of leukemia cells — and “identifies taurine as a key regulator of myeloid malignancies,” which, like leukemia, are cancers that begin in the blood.

The study says cancer cells in mice are fueled by taurine: “Taurine supplements could significantly accelerate disease progression in immunocompetent mice (around threefold higher likelihood of death… indicating that taurine can promote leukaemic progression.” 

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In plain terms, the study found that cancer cells consume the taurine, which triggers glycolysis (breaking down glucose for energy), which then further fuels the cancer cells, according to a press release from the University of Rochester, which conducted the research.

Previously, taurine has been proven useful as a supplement in chemotherapy. One study in Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutic said, “Taurine supplementation could be a protection against chemotherapy-induced toxicities probably by its antioxidant capacity.”  

Stock image of the tops of energy drinks.

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This has prompted the researchers to add a caveat regarding energy drinks.

“As taurine is a common ingredient in energy drinks, and is often provided as a supplement to mitigate the side-effects of chemotherapy our work suggests that it may be of interest to carefully consider the benefits of supplemental taurine in patients with leukaemia," researchers wrote in Nature.