# Methemoglobinemia case from beetroot consumption > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/methemoglobinemia-case-from-beetroot-consumption > Updated: 2026-10-27T16:32:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2. An 82-year-old man in the United States was hospitalized in critical condition after consuming excessive amounts of beetroot, including its cooking water. The patient, who consumed up to three kilograms of cooked beetroot per week to improve his health, presented with low blood pressure, slate-gray skin, and an oxygen saturation level of 88% despite supplemental oxygen. Medical examinations at the University of California, Los Angeles, revealed that approximately 21% of the patient's hemoglobin had converted to methemoglobin, a form unable to effectively transport oxygen. Doctors determined the condition was triggered by the high nitrate content in the beetroot combined with a prescribed nitrate medication for a heart condition. The case, documented in The Journal of Emergency Medicine, noted that the patient experienced dizziness, extreme weakness, and loss of consciousness. He was eventually stabilized after being administered methylene blue. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-27: Excessive beetroot consumption causes methemoglobinemia in elderly man An 82-year-old man developed life-threatening methemoglobinemia after consuming 2.7 kg of beetroot weekly, a condition caused by excessive nitrate intake interacting with heart medication. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/excessive-beetroot-consumption-causes-methemoglobinemia-in-elderly-man ### 2026-10-14: UCLA doctors treat 82-year-old for methemoglobinemia caused by beetroot consumption An 82-year-old man was hospitalized with methemoglobinemia after consuming large amounts of beetroot combined with nitrate-containing medication. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ucla-doctors-treat-82-year-old-for-methemoglobinemia-caused-by-beetroot-consumption --- Cite as: Methemoglobinemia case from beetroot consumption. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/methemoglobinemia-case-from-beetroot-consumption