Mother of Florida fitness enthusiast blames energy drinks and caffeine for her death at 28

Katie's mother, Lori Barranon, said her daughter often drank up to three energy drinks a day and took caffeine supplement before hitting the gym, the New York Post reported. Nevertheless, Katie worked out frequently, ate organic, and was "the epitome of health", Lori said.

While Katie had severe anxiety, Lori believed her daughter's abuse of energy drinks and caffeine were to blame for the condition instead, she told the media this week.

In August 2021, Katie fainted as she was hanging out with her friends. Despite an ambulance call, Katie suffered brain damage after being without oxygen for too long. She then spent days in a medically induced coma as her seizures getting worse over time. Her family made the decision to take her off life support after 10 days, according to Daily Mail.

Lori claimed that while doctors had seen several similar cases happening to people who drink a lot of energy drinks, they cannot determine it to be a cause of death, the Times of India reported.

Health experts said that caffeine, while allowing one to enhance alertness and physical performance, can also produce side effects such as raising blood pressure, heart rates and worsening anxiety.