TOKYO, Japan – Widespread consumption of caffeinated energy drinks and tablets has led to an increase in caffeine overdose cases in Japan with at least three deaths in recent years, the first nationwide survey on the issue showed Tuesday.
The survey conducted by the Japanese Society for Clinical Toxicology found at least 101 people were taken to hospital due to excessive caffeine over the five years through March 2016, with a significant proportion late-night work such as caregivers, the society said.
Consuming more than a gram of caffeine at one time can cause symptoms such as severe nausea, dizziness and increased heart rate. There were seven cases of heart failure, three fatal, following the consumption of over 6 grams of caffeine at one time, according to the survey.
The survey, covering 38 emergency medical facilities, found the number of people taken to hospital due to excessive caffeine consumption increased significantly from around 2013.
Most of the 101 cases involved people who had taken caffeine tablets, with some having taken them in conjunction with coffee or caffeinated energy drinks, the society said.
“Not many people are aware of the danger of caffeine overdoses and even the government has not been able to find out how widespread the problem is,” said Yoshito Kamijo, a professor at Saitama Medical University Hospital, who helped conduct the survey.
“There needs to be a limit on the amount of caffeine tablets people can buy at one time,” Kamijo said.
