Japan reports first case of fatal caffeine intoxication

A number of health experts link caffeine to multiple health benefits. However, saying that it also has few side effects would be an understatement.

Recently, a man in his 20s from Kyushu died. A forensic study conducted by researchers at the Fukuoka University has linked the death of the young man to over-consumption of caffeinated drinks.

Japan Today reports that the deceased man has been consuming a lot of caffeinated drinks over a long period of time, which eventually led to caffeine poisoning. The man used to work the night shift at a gasoline station and was heavy on the caffeine. He used to take caffeine in the form of drinks and tablets to keep himself awake throughout the night.

An investigation into the death of the man has revealed that the young man also used to consume a lot of energy drinks, which are heavy on the caffeine. He had collapsed and vomited multiple times in the year before his death.

Just before his death, the man had returned from work and slept. He woke up abruptly and vomited before he was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.

An autopsy of the body found high levels of caffeine powder in the man's blood and other stomach contents. The officials at the university officially declared the leading cause of death as caffeine intoxication.

The HealthSite reports that this is the first ever caffeine-related death report in Japan even though it is common in the US, where highly-caffeinated drinks are widely available and are consumed the maximum.

Japan's Food Safety Commission allows consumption of three cups of coffee a day for healthy adults and a 350mm can of cola for children aged between four and six years.

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