The Coexistence of Licorice Syndrome and Central Diabetes Insipidus: A Case Report

A fifty-three-year-old male patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic because of polyuria, polydipsia and weight loss symptoms in the last three months. Hypernatremia, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis and hipostenuria were found in his laboratory tests. After water restriction test, the case was diagnosed as central diabetes insipidus. His complaints, polyuria and hypernatremia improved with oral desmopressin treatment. Plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity was found to be supressed under oral potassium supplementation. During detailed questioning, we found that the patient consumed 2 litres/day of licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) water. Licorice syndrome was diagnosed, and after cessation of licorice consumption laboratory findings normalised.