Man turns to AI for a sodium free diet, ends up with paranoia, hallucinations, and a 19th century ailment!
And while mostly, AI is indeed a powerful tool that helps us to a great extent, it is, at the end of the day, artificial intelligence, and should not replace human advice, and especially medical one! A 60-year-old man from New York learned this lesson the (very) hard way when he used ChatGPT to generate a diet plan without salt, only to end up with a rare illness!
What actually happened
According to a report in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the man approached ChatGPT for a no sodium diet, since he needed to avoid sodium chloride for health reasons.
He relied on ChatGPT's response instead of consulting his doctor, before adopting the proposed diet plan for three months. However, what started off as basic search through this system, led to an unusual dangerous medical condition, which proved that AI recommendations without doctor supervision can create dangerous outcomes.
What did ChatGPT suggest
The AI system suggested sodium bromide as an appropriate substitute for conventional salt consumption.
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In the past, doctors have used sodium bromide as an insomnia treatment and anxiety remedy, during the 19th and 20th centuries. Eventually, Medical science discovered sodium bromide's toxic effects at high dosages, so it ceased being used as a human medicine.
What happened here
The man bought sodium bromide from an online retailer, then used it in his daily meals assuming it was a healthy salt substitute. The compound accumulated in his body, until it caused the rare medical condition known as 'bromism' which is quite unheard of in today's time, and was common in the 19th century!
What is Bromide toxicity
Bromide toxicity also known as Bromism, occurs when the body accumulates bromide ions from long-term, or excessive exposure to bromide-containing substances.
Bromide disrupts brain and nervous system functions by impairing normal nerve cell activity, which results in multiple neurological and mental health symptoms.
When people experience bromide toxicity, they develop confusion alongside irritability and hallucinations, while also experiencing shaking and coordination difficulties, and possibly psychotic episodes. Skin conditions that produce acne-like rashes together, with red spots are typical among affected individuals.
Before doctors understood bromide's harmful effects, this condition was common in the 19th century, because bromide served as a sedative, in various medicines.
How did this man get Bromide Toxicity
After following the sodium bromide diet for multiple months, the man started to feel severely ill. He started to exhibit neurological problems which included confusion, together with paranoia and hallucinations, and claimed that his neighbour was trying to kill him.
His skin developed strange acne-like lesions and red skin spots. His Lab results revealed abnormal electrolyte levels, including hyperchloremia and a negative anion gap, leading to the diagnosis.
Bromism used to occur frequently during the past when bromide medicines were commonly used, but it is now virtually nonexistent.
Deceptive AI guidance
This incident demonstrates how depending exclusively on AI tools for dietary guidance without doctor approval, can lead to dangerous medical situations.
The speed of AI information delivery does not always ensure complete awareness of dangerous recommendations, or personal health factors.
The man received no warning from ChatGPT about sodium bromide toxicity, or its past use as a discontinued medication. The lack of caution in this example, reveals the current boundaries of AI technology while proving the need for medical professional consultation before making significant diet modifications or supplement use.
Sources
Annals of Internal Medicine: Clinical Cases Report on Bromide Toxicity
ScienceDirect: Study on credibility of dietary advice by ChatGPT
University of Washington Medical Report on Bromism linked to AI advice
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