Three people, suffering from kidney disorders, published a high potassium rate after consuming large amounts of watermelon daily for several weeks; Their state has improved by reducing this consumption.
A juicy slice of watermelonit is often the sweet reward of summer. But behind its apparent innocence, this refreshing fruit could well represent a silent danger for some people. Three patients made it bitter experience, following regular consumption.
The case dates back to a series of medical cases published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine. Three adultsall suffering from diseases chronic renalshave developed a severe hyperkalemiaan excess of potassium in the blood after consuming watermelon daily for several weeks. Their cases required emergency management, especially in intensive care, due to complications cardiovascular directly threatening their lives.
How did the watermelon cause serious cardiac disorders?
In the first case, a 56 -year -old man suffering from type 2 diabetes and chronic renal failure of stadium 4 was admitted to resuscitation after discomfort. He had lost consciousness for 15 seconds and had an abnormally low heart rate – only 20 beats per minute accompanied by alarming blood pressure to 62/32 mmHg. Analyzes have revealed a rate of potassium of 7 mmol / l in the blood, while normal value is between 3.6 and 5.2 mmol / l. The man said he eaten “large quantities” of watermelon each evening for two months, reports Newatlas.
The second case concerns a septuagenarian with ischemic heart disease, carrying an implanted defibrillator. He received an automatic electric discharge following an episode of ventricular fibrillation, a potentially fatal heart rate disorder. In the hospital, his electrocardiogram seemed normal, but the tests revealed a hyperkalemia moderate at 6.6 MMOL / L. The man consumed two glasses of watermelon juice per day for about a month. This fruit, associated with its treatment by Valsartan, has probably reduced the ability of its kidneys to eliminate potassium.
Rich in water, watermelon is a fruit full of potassium
Finally, the third patient, a 36 -year -old woman under hemodialysis For a terminal kidney disease, has been diagnosed with a hyperkalemia persistent during his monthly analyzes. Despite its dialysis sessions, its potassium level had climbed to 7.4 mmol/l. She admitted to consuming “Large quantities” watermelon every day for three weeks. Once consumption is stopped, its rate returned to normal.
These cases illustrate how an overload by potassium Can develop without immediate visible clinical signs, especially in patients with kidney disease. The absorption of potassium via food then becomes a critical risk factor to monitor.
Watermelon: a more risky fruit than you think for weakened kidneys
The watermelon is made up of 92 % water, which explains its reputation for thirsty fruit. But it hides a more important potassium content than we imagine: a large edge contains about 320 mg, almost as much as a banana (425 mg). And in some very wide portions up to 17 inches in length, this can represent more 5 000 mg de potassiumor a half time the daily dose recommended for an adult.
In their study, researchers recall that if foods rich in potassium such as bananas, tomatoes or potatoes are well known to increase the kaliemiawatermelon is rarely cited among the culprits. However, its danger potential is real. According to the Women’s Journal, the researchers notes that: “Watermelon is a popular summer fruit and although bananas, potatoes and tomatoes are known to cause hyperkalemia, the risk of hyperkalemia after excessive watermelon consumption is often overlooked”.
Potassium is a vital mineral because it plays a central role in the proper functioning of cells, nerves and muscles. But when The kidneys are weakenedthey no longer manage to eliminate it properly. Result: this surplus accumulates in the blood and causes electrical disorders of the heart which can go as far as asystolia, that is to say a cardiac arrest without electrical activity.
A more risky fruit than you think for weakened kidneys
Good reflexes to avoid hyperkalemia
For a healthy person, consuming watermelon in moderation does not represent danger. On the other hand, for people with a renal failureeven not diagnosed, the quantities should be strictly limited. Doctors recommend that they do not exceed 500 g of watermelon By day, which is equivalent to two or three slices, and above all, not to eat it every day.
The risks also increase with the taking of certain drugs, in particular those used against hypertension or heart disease, such as inhibitors of the conversion enzyme or the antagonists of the receptors of angiotensin. These treatments reduce the excretion of potassium and, associated with a diet rich in this mineral, can lead to a quickly dangerous overload.
The reported cases also highlight another difficulty: the absence of symptoms in many forms of hyperkalemia. A person can thus present a high rate of potassium For several days without knowing it, until a cardiac anomaly is triggered. This makes prevention even more crucial for people at risk.
Finally, it is vital fromExpand vigilance to other foods : dry apricots, orange juice, avocados, potatoes, spinach or dairy products also contain high quantities of potassium. But watermelon, precisely because it is considered to be without danger, deserves special attention.