beer potomania

beer potomania

A condition characterised by hyponatraemia in response to excessive beer intake in a background of poor nutrition.
Pathophysiology
The low (30 mg/L) sodium content of beer means that it is little different from free water. Because the kidneys can dilute urine to a maximum of 50 mosm/L, 4 litres of beer (essentially 4 litres of water) stimulates the secretion of anti-diuretic hormone, resulting in hyponatraemia.