US Teen Dies After Following High-Protein Diet
Missouri doctors describe the case of an apparently healthy 16-year-old girl who collapsed suddenly and died after spending one to two weeks on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.
Electrolyte imbalances due to the diet, and the resulting damage to her heart function, were likely responsible, the physicians who cared for her report in a recent issue of the Southern Medical Journal. The girl had no known illnesses or medical conditions.
The teen had low potassium and calcium levels when she arrived at the University of Missouri Health Sciences Center, most likely as a consequence of the diet, the doctors state in their report. This disrupted the normal electrical function of her heart, leading it to stop and causing her to collapse, they write.
Dietitians and proponents of the Atkins diet, one example of a low-carbohydrate/high-protein diet, say that other weight-loss measures including eating disorders like bulimia or the use of diuretics were far more likely to have contributed to the low electrolyte levels found in the teen’s blood.
Low potassium and calcium suggest low magnesium to me. I cannot understand how a high protein diet would lead to low magnesium, potassium or calcium. Therefore, I am skeptical of the association in this anecdotal report. Nonetheless, I share this report for your consideration.
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3 Responses to Was it the diet?
Jim Pierce, MD
November 1st, 2002 at 10:35 am
I am an internist practicing in western PA, and have been advocating low-carb diets for 4 years. It has been my experience that in the first few weeks of low carb, the diet acts as an extremely powerful diuretic due to at least 2 mechanisms: 1. decrease in insulin levels/reversal of insulin resistance, resulting in reversal of insulin-induced sodium (and concommitant water) retention, and 2. depletion of skeletal muscle glycogen stores, with resultant diuresis secondary to water loss (hydroxl groups in the glycogen had been holding onto water). Therefore, I routinely recommend a Ca/Mg/Zn supplement, and a potassium supplement or Morton’s Lite Salt. Total body potassium stores are severely depleted in the first 2 weeks otherwise.
Pauline
April 28th, 2003 at 11:01 am
Hi
I have been low carbing alittle over 2 years now and have lost 126 pounds and my extremely high sugar count has came down to normal I was on 4 Glucovance a day before now 1 a day.I feel great. love low carbing. I do take supplements and vitamins. I am looking for stores in western Pa. that carry’s a nice line of low carb products if you know of any please let me know?
Thank you
Sincerely
Pauline
Pauline
April 28th, 2003 at 11:01 am
Hi
I have been low carbing alittle over 2 years now and have lost 126 pounds and my extremely high sugar count has came down to normal I was on 4 Glucovance a day before now 1 a day.I feel great. love low carbing. I do take supplements and vitamins. I am looking for stores in western Pa. that carry’s a nice line of low carb products if you know of any please let me know?
Thank you
Sincerely
Pauline