This candy (often left in the box) risky for the heart

It’s THE candy that divides and often ends up last in the box. But maybe that’s not such a bad thing depending on the warnings published by the National Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety (handles) and Poison Control Centres, the March 30. Liquorice -since it is what we are talking about- consumed in large quantities for at least 3 months poses a risk ofsevere poisoning, including in healthy people. “64 people were poisoned following the consumption of beverages or foods made with licorice” reveals a study conducted between 2012 and 2021 by ANSES. More than 40% of poisonings were “serious” with symptoms like: high blood pressure, water retention and heart problems caused by a too high potassium level in the bloodsometimes going as far as engage the vital prognosis. In question, glycyrrhizin, the most abundant component of licorice root, used as a sweetener (sweetening power 50 to 100 times greater than that of sucrose), softener and flavor enhancer in various products such as:

• THE confectionery (candy, chewing gum)
• THE pastis (with and without alcohol)
• there beer
• certain syrups and soft drinks
• bakery products
• ice cream and sorbets
• of the herbal teas
• food supplements
• cocoa products

Two poisonings in children and 1 death in adults

Study participants ranged in age from 10 to 77 years old. alone two poisonings have been reported in children. 1 death has been reported in a patient with severe liver damage and consuming pastis with alcohol. The evolution was almost always favorable (92%) after hospital treatment, or even in intensive care. Only one patient had sequelae following a stroke complicating a hypertensive crisis.

After stopping licorice consumption, the effect lasts for about two weeks, and the return to a normal physiological state of the organism requires two to six months. At the end of the study, a regular daily dose of 100mg of glycyrrhizin per day has been established as the threshold at which adverse effects are observed. ANSES recommends consumption of no more than 10 milligrams per day of glycyrrhizin. “It is advisable to avoid continuous consumption of products containing licorice” warns the Agency. In addition, the labeling of products containing licorice could be modified by adding the words “contains licorice” on the products concerned and by replacing the reference “people with hypertension should avoid excessive consumption” by “excessive and / or regular consumption exposes you to a risk of high blood pressure and other adverse effects that can be serious, consume in moderation” since the risk also concerns healthy people.

Sources:

– Liquorice: to be consumed occasionally and in moderation, 30 March 2023, Anses

– “Beverages, sweets and other liquorice-based foods: consume in moderation”, article, November 2022, Vigil’Anses

– Adverse effects induced by liquorice consumed in food, Toxicovigilance study report, October 2022, ANSES