Vegan Diet Induced Myopathy
Vamsi Chalasani
Department of Neurology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Porur, India.
Sundar Shanmugam
Department of Neurology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Porur, India.
Shankar Venkatasubramanian
Department of Neurology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Porur, India.
Rithvik Ramesh *
Department of Neurology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Chennai, Porur, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism can present for the first time as myopathy in some patients. Strict vegans are at risk of vitamin D deficiency resulting in secondary hyperparathyroidism. A myopathic presentation may lead to investigations and misdiagnosis of neuromuscular disease, ratherthan a metabolic bone disease.
Methods: We report a young lady presenting with severe progressive limb girdle pattern myopathy, with brisk reflexes and periphral neuropathy. Electrophysiology confirmed the presence of ,yopathy and neuropathy, and labaotorial evaluation revealed vitamin D deficiency and elevated parathormone levels.
Results: She was supplemented with vitamin D, and on follow up was found to have a near complete improvement.
Conclusion: Hence it is imperative to evaluate for vitamin D deficiency in all
susceptible patients, especially with a history of strict vegetarianism.
Keywords: Parathormone, myopathy, secondary hyperparathyroidism, electrophysiology, neuropathy.