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12.06.2016

Carb binge after competition paralyzes bodybuilder

After a competition, some bodybuilders binge on carbohydrates for a short period. So did a Korean bodybuilder, who ended up in the hospital. In 4 days he put on 10 kilos, and this increase of body weight disrupted his electrolyte balance. His muscles started to decay and he lost control of his legs.

Case
Researchers from Changwon Gyeongsang National University Hospital described the case of a 28-year-old bodybuilder who had participated in a competition 5 days earlier. After that he had been binging on carbohydrates, and gained kilos. The bodybuilder denied the use of anabolics or other doping substances. And if a competitive bodybuilder says he doesn't use steroids, we believe him. Of course.

In his blood, the researchers found evidence of muscle damage: the concentration of creatine kinase and myoglobin was pretty high. And, very strange, the concentration of potassium was dangerously low.

After the competition, the muscle and liver cells of the man had been carb depleted, the researchers think. The cells had absorbed lots of glucose when the carb binge started. However, electrolytes such as potassium are required for the cellular uptake of glucose. Apparently the muscles and the liver had absorbed so much glucose that the bodybuilder's potassium level had become dangerously low. This could explain why his muscle cells were breaking down and neural pathways to his legs no longer functioned.

Treatment
The researchers gave the bodybuilder potassium via an infusion. This could not prevent that the concentration of creatine kinase [CK] and myoglobin increased in the days that followed, but that increase was short-lived. All symptoms disappeared, and after 7 days the bodybuilder could go home again.

Conclusion
"In conclusion, with the recent, increasing numbers of new fitness centers and the increasing numbers of youngsters participating in bodybuilding, physicians should be able to recognize possible causes of sudden severe hypokalemia in these patients, with large amounts of muscle mass to treat, and advise the patients appropriately", write the researchers.

Source:
Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Oct;96(40):e8251.

More:
Potassium supplement causes heart failure in bodybuilder (18.12.2011)

Archives:
Potassium

Potassium rich diet protects against stroke and reduces mortality risk A relatively high potassium intake - potassium is found mainly in fruit, vegetables and other plant products - protects against strokes and reduces the chance of dying.	Diet with less sodium and more potassium has slight slimming effect The link between slimness and the sodium-potassium ratio is not earth shatteringly strong, but it is observable.	Potassium supplement makes protein metabolism more efficient Old people who have a high potassium intake from eating fruit and vegetables have more fat free mass than old people who consume little potassium.