Licorice-flavored products can cause serious side effects if consumed in excess. (Image credit: JazzIRT via Getty Images)
Patient: 54-year-old man from Boston.
Symptoms: While visiting a restaurant, the man suddenly began to choke, shake uncontrollably and lost consciousness.
What happened next: The ambulance crew performed CPR and discovered that the lower chambers of the man's heart were not functioning properly, preventing blood flow. Medics gave the man drugs to normalize his heart rhythm and keep his heart pumping. He briefly regained consciousness, but lost it again before he could be taken to the hospital.
Diagnosis: Doctors at the hospital confirmed that the patient had suffered cardiac arrest, in which the heart suddenly stops beating.
Treatment: He was given intravenous fluids to stabilize his vital functions and medications to restore heart function and relieve pain. A tube was inserted into his airway to support his breathing and a mechanical pump was installed to assist his heart function. Tests showed that his potassium levels were too low, so he was given intravenous potassium. However, despite these treatments, the man's condition worsened to multiple organ failure. He died 32 hours after being admitted to hospital.
What makes this case unusual: The cause of this patient's serious condition may seem innocuous: licorice-flavored candy. The patient's family told health care workers that he had been eating one to two large bags of the soft candy every day. Three weeks before his cardiac arrest, the patient began eating licorice-flavored candies instead of fruit-flavored ones.
Candies containing real licorice contain a compound called glycyrrhizin. This compound blocks an enzyme in the kidneys that causes them to retain excess water and sodium and excrete too much potassium. Potassium is essential for the heart to function properly, so a deficiency can lead to serious—and sometimes fatal—heart problems.
The Food and Drug Administration warns that “if you’re 40 or older, eating 2 ounces (56 grams) of black licorice daily for at least two weeks may land you in the hospital with an irregular heartbeat.” Licorice can also interfere with the action of some medications, so if you choose to eat the candy, it’s best to do so in moderation.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.
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TOPICS Diagnostic Dilemma
Nicoletta LaneseSocial Links NavigationChannel Editor, Health
Nicoletta Lanese is the health editor at Live Science and previously served as a news editor and staff writer for the site. She holds a graduate degree in science communication from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Her work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, Mercury News, Mongabay, and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other publications. Based in New York City, she is also an avid dancer and performs in productions by local choreographers.
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