Milk-alkali syndrome

Milk-alkali syndrome, also called calcium-alkali syndrome, is the third most common cause of elevated blood calcium and is marked by a triad of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis and acute kidney injury. It develops from excessive intake of calcium, typically from supplements taken to prevent osteoporosis, combined with an absorbable alkaline substance such as those found in antacids; modern cases mostly come from overuse of calcium carbonate supplements rather than the historical combination of milk and alkali. Acute symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, confusion and an aversion to milk, can appear within days to months, while chronic cases can bring muscle aches, tremors, psychosis and abnormal calcium deposits in tissue; untreated, it can progress to kidney failure or death, so treatment centers on stopping the offending intake, with severe cases needing hospitalization, intravenous fluids and sometimes dialysis.