Diagnostic dilemma: A man's heart stopped after he ate too much licorice

News
By published

A man experienced cardiac arrest after eating a different flavor of candy than he had historically.

photo of three medical providers in blue scrubs rusing a person on a bed down a hospital hallway
Licorice-flavored foods can come with dangerous side effects if eaten in excess. (Image credit: JazzIRT via Getty Images)

The patient: A 54-year-old man in Boston

The symptoms: The man was at a restaurant when he suddenly gasped, started shaking uncontrollably and lost consciousness.

The diagnosis: Hospital doctors confirmed that the man had experienced cardiac arrest, in which the heart suddenly stops beating.

The treatment: He received IV fluids to stabilize his vitals, as well as drugs to help restart his heart and relieve pain. A tube was inserted into his airway to support his breathing while a mechanical pump was placed to help his heart work. Lab tests revealed that he had too little potassium in his blood, so he was given the essential mineral via IV. Despite these and other treatments, though, the man's condition worsened to multiorgan failure. He died 32 hours after being admitted to the hospital.

What makes the case unique: The cause of this patient's fatal condition might seem harmless: licorice-flavored candy. The man's family informed his doctors that he had been eating one to two large packages of soft candy each day. Three weeks prior to the cardiac arrest, the patient had switched from fruit-flavored to licorice-flavored candy.

Candies flavored with real licorice contain a compound called glycyrrhizin. This compound blocks an enzyme in the kidneys, causing them to retain too much water and sodium and to expel too much potassium. Potassium is needed for the heart to pump properly, so losing too much of the mineral can lead to serious — and sometimes deadly — heart problems.

The Food and Drug Administration warns that "if you're 40 or older, eating 2 ounces (56 grams) of black licorice a day for at least two weeks could land you in the hospital with an irregular heart rhythm." Licorice can also interfere with certain medications, so if you eat this candy, it's best to do so in moderation.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and is not meant to offer medical advice.

Ever wonder why some people build muscle more easily than others or why freckles come out in the sun? Send us your questions about how the human body works to community@livescience.com with the subject line "Health Desk Q," and you may see your question answered on the website!

Nicoletta Lanese
Nicoletta Lanese
Channel Editor, Health

Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She holds a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains heavily involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.