Scientific Committee on Food, “Opinion of the Scientific Committee on Food on Glycyrrhizinic Acid and Its Ammonium Salt,” European Commission Heath and Consumer Protection Directorate General, Brussels, 2012.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Hypertension Unusual Cause

  AUTHORS: Ana Belén Hernández Cascales, Alicia Hernández Torres, María Ángeles Ibáñez Gil, Pedro Pujante Alarcón, Alfonso López Ruiz, María Dolores Hellín Gil, Juan Mayor Barrancos

  KEYWORDS: Licorice; Glycyrrhizic Acid; Glycyrrhizinic Acid; Induced Hypertension; Hypokalemia

  JOURNAL NAME: Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Vol.5 No.1, January 6, 2014

  ABSTRACT: We expose a case of a woman with hypertension and hypokalemia. The differential diagnosis should include primary hyperaldosteronism, diuretics or lazantes intake, secondary hyperaldosteronism. In this patient, additional tests performed show no cause of hormonal disruption and the whole picture is due to a high intake of licorice. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active component of licorice, inhibits renal IIbeta-hydroxisteroid dehydrogenase. This allows cortisol to stimulate mineralocorticoid receptors. Licorice ingestion should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypertension with hypokalemia.