Chronic licorice consumption as a rare cause of hypocalcemia

Abstract

Introduction: Licorice ingestion is well-described with its hypokalemic and hypertensive effects in the literature. To our knowledge, up to now, hypocalcemia due to licorice ingestion has not been described. Our aim is to create awareness for hypocalecemia concomittant with hypokalemia in patients with chronic licorice ingestion.

Case Report: A 51-year old male patient presented to our Emergency Department (ED) with complaint of numbness on his whole body. On anamnesis, it was determined that he has been consuming licorice to regulate his hypertension for 3 months. Laboratory analysis revealed hypokalemia and hypocalcemia. After replacement therapy, the patient was discharged from the hospital with full recovery.

Conclusion: Focusing on hypokalemia may lead to misdiagnosis of hypocalcemia in patients with chronic licorice ingestion. Physicians must be aware of other electrolyte disturbances not described in the literature yet. 

Keywords

• licorice ingestion,hypocalcemia,hypokalemia,emergency medicine

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