Am J Kidney Dis. 2000 Feb; 35(2): 310-2.

Noni juice (Morinda citrifolia): hidden potential for hyperkalemia?

Mueller BA, Scott MK, Sowinski KM, Prag KA.

Department of Pharmacy Practice, Purdue University School of Pharmacy and Pharmacal Sciences, Indianapolis, IN 46202-2879, USA. bmueller@iupui.edu

We report the case of a man with chronic renal insufficiency who self-medicated with an alternative medicine product known as noni juice (Morinda citrifolia). The patient presented to the clinic with hyperkalemia despite claiming adherence to a low-potassium diet. The potassium concentration in noni juice samples was determined and found to be 56.3 mEq/L, similar to that in orange juice and tomato juice. Herbal remedies and alternative medicine products may be surreptitious sources of potassium in patients with renal disease.