The use of supplements and alternative medicines is common in elite athletes. Many of these products have multiple components, and because they are marketed as natural, it may be presumed by the consumer that side effects are infrequent. In this case report, we describe an elite triathlete who presented with a sensation of diffuse mild swelling and weight increase that resolved after discontinuation of a herbal supplement that had been marketed as supportive of adrenal function. The supplement contained licorice, which is well known to induce a state of hyper-mineralocorticoidism, which is associated with sodium and water retention, hypertension, hypokalemia, and suppression of the renin-angiotensin system.
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