Myocardial Infarction in a Young African Male Using Protein Supplements Rich in Branched Chain Amino Acids & Creatine

Abstract

Aims: Myocardial Infarction is more likely to inflict patients with major cardiovascular risk factors. Sometimes we come across a few patients with myocardial infarction who doesn’t have any of the typical risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity. Such patients give us an insight to explore other unidentified predisposing factors which can lead to the development of this catastrophic disease. Case Presentation: We hereby present a case of 41 years old African man, with no cardiovascular risk factors, who presented with ST-elevation MI. Patient was taking protein supplements rich in branched chain amino acids and creatine which we hypothesize to be the culprit for his intracoronary thrombosis. Discussion: Protein Supplements can predispose patients to develop thromboembolic disease. Though more data is needed to strengthen the association, our patient might be one of the few clues which provide link to the ominous association between protein supplements and development of thrombosis. Conclusion: We should proactively look for the etiology of coronary thrombosis in any young patient with no traditional risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. Patients, and general population as such, should be discouraged to use unregulated medicinal products which are freely available over-the-counter.