A recent report from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) suggests a possible link between excessive consumption of energy drinks and hepatitis C.

The case report came after a 50-year-old construction worker recently developed acute hepatitis after reportedly consuming between four and five energy drinks each day in a three-week span.

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The man, who was not identified, initially thought he was only suffering from flu. However, he was alarmed when his urine turned dark and his eyes and skin were yellow, which are signs of hepatitis, Fox8 reported citing the researchers from University of Florida College of Medicine.

He claimed to have not seen a doctor "in years" but was in good shape, abstaining from tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs. He claimed that has never underwent any blood transfusion procedures and engaged in high-risk sexual behavior. He also reported no familial history of liver disease.

Doctors found out that he was suffering from hepatitis C, an inflammation of the liver usually caused by alcohol abuse or viral infection, and zeroed in his energy drinking habit, The Indy Channel reported.

But even before blaming the energy drinks, several other tests were conducted to rule out other hypotheses. He tested negative for ischemic hepatitis and viral causes of hepatitis. His biopsy, however, revealed a non-specific liver damage, which means it was caused by drugs or toxins.

In the man's blood sample, his serum folate and vitamin B12 levels, which are commonly found in energy drinks, have "exceeded quantifiable limits." The report pointed that too much consumption of theses will accumulate in the liver and become toxic.

However, Donnica Smalls, a spokeswoman for the viral hepatitis center at the CDC, clarified that "Energy drinks are not a source of viral hepatitis."

The patient's liver injury "was directly subsequent to excessive consumption of energy drinks, and resolved on discontinuation of the products," according to the report. His symptoms alleviated on the third day of hospitalization and was discharged on the sixth.

While energy drinks are scrutinized for the caffeine amounts, its large quantities of "natural ingredients" have appeared to be overlooked.

Each bottle of the man's energy drink has 40 mg of niacin (vitamin B3), which is 200 percent more than the daily recommended dose, the BMJ noted. Other energy drinks also have high levels of B6 or B12, which could also raise the risk of toxicity since it is a thousands of times over their daily B-vitamin need.

Energy drinks such as Monster, Rockstar, and Red Bull were found to have high contents of niacin, according to Gizmodo.

BMJ also warned Americans to take caution on energy drinks and herbal supplements that claim to use "natural ingredients," stressing that preservatives-free ingredients do not mean they are already harmless.

"We hope patients will be educated about the potential risks of energy drink overconsumption, and thus, many unnecessary liver injuries will be prevented," the study reads.

Tagsenergy drinks and hepatitis, Hepatitis C, energry drinks, Are Energy Drinks Bad