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Case Reports
. 2024 Jun 14:12:2050313X241261157.
doi: 10.1177/2050313X241261157. eCollection 2024.

Acute myocardial infarction following "dry scooping" of a pre-workout supplement in a healthy young man of African origin: A case report

Pedro Pallangyo  1   2 , Smita V Bhalia  2 , Makrina Komba  1 , Zabella S Mkojera  1 , Eva S Manji  3 , Jalack Millinga  4 , Yona Gandye  2 , Peter R Kisenge  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute myocardial infarction following "dry scooping" of a pre-workout supplement in a healthy young man of African origin: A case report

Pedro Pallangyo et al. SAGE Open Med Case Rep. .

Abstract

Dry scooping, a rather risky act of consuming undiluted pre-workout protein powder hoping for a more pronounced energy surge, is increasingly becoming a fitness trend worldwide. A previously healthy 25-year-old man of African origin presented with acute onset of crushing mid-sternal chest pain for 4 h. His symptoms began about an hour following completion of his 2-h exercise regimen at the gym. He had an unremarkable past medical history except for an 8-month consumption of a pre-workout supplement as part of his gym routine. He claimed to have adhered to the manufacturer's recommended method of using the supplement, except for 3 days prior to presentation when he started "dry scooping" following the viewing of a video advocating such practice from his fitness WhatsApp group. Cardiac evaluation revealed features in keeping with diagnosis of anterolateral ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary angiography revealed a thrombotic lesion completely occluding the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with TIMI 0 flow distally. After successful balloon angioplasty, a drug-eluting stent was implanted successfully, restoring TIMI 3 flow to the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. This case report aims to raise awareness among both clinicians and the general public regarding the pervasiveness of pre-workout supplements, improper methods of consumption, and the potential life-threatening repercussions of misuse.

Keywords: Acute myocardial infarction; STEMI; acute coronary syndrome; coronary artery thrombosis; fitness supplements; pre-workout supplement.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Electrocardiogram displaying sinus rhythm with marked ST elevation on the anterolateral leads (V2–V5, I, aVL) and reciprocal changes in the inferior leads (III and aVF).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Coronary angiography-1 displaying a filling defect consistent with thrombosis, 100% occlusion of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery artery, and distal tapering with TIMI 0 flow.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Coronary angiography-2 displaying a patent left anterior descending coronary artery vessel post revascularization with drug-eluting stent.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Electrocardiogram at follow-up displaying normal findings.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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