RT Journal
A1 Moore MJ
T1 LIquid protein diets and electrolyte deficiency
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 1979
FD April 6
VO 241
IS 14
SP 1464
OP 1464
DO 10.1001/jama.1979.03290400024013
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1979.03290400024013
AB To the Editor.— 
    The Journal had two articles (240:115, 1978; 240:120, 1978) and an editorial (240:144, 1978) referring to patients who followed 300-calorie, protein hydrolysate diets and experienced remarkably similar illnesses: syncopal episodes, hypotension, prolonged Q-T interval, and low QRS voltage. In addition, three of the four died of arrhythmias. The hospital's normal values were not listed for potassium and magnesium, but Singh et al (240:115, 1978) mentioned that the electrolyte levels were marginally depressed.Comment was made that one patient received magnesium orally while in an intensive care unit. Another received one ampul of magnesium and died 2 1/2 days later without receiving any more. This patient had also taken a parenteral-mineral preparation containing magnesium, which can vary from 0.15 to 100 mg, depending on the particular one selected. There was no explanation for the omission of the milliequivalents of these items, but it is unlikely that the patients