46I-15 |
Assessment of dietary exposure to the natural toxin hypoglycin in Ackee (Blighia sapida) by Jamaican consumers |
O. A. BLAKE1, J. C. Jackson1, C. L. A. Gordon2, and M. A. Jackson3. (1) Department of Chemistry, Food Chemistry Group, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica, (2) Technological Solutions Limited (TSL), 71/2 Retirement Road, Kingston 5, Jamaica, (3) Department of Community Health, University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston 7, Jamaica Hypoglycin is the natural toxin found in the ackee fruit. When the fruit is consumed unripe, it produces an acute toxic effect within two to three hours with symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headache and drowsiness. Coma and death may occur within 12 hours in severe cases. Among the countries where ackee is grown, Jamaica is probably the most important producer and processor globally, where it has both national and commercial significance. The toxin exists as the cyclic amino acid, hypoglycin A (HG-A), and its gamma-glutamyl derivative, hypoglycin B (HG-B), and decreases as the fruit ripens. Hypoglycin (HG) is heat stable and its content is not known to be reduced by any processing method. This study will assess the dietary exposure to hypoglycin by Jamaican consumers. HG was isolated and characterized from the seeds of the ackee fruit to produce an analytical standard to quantify levels in typical diets consumed. Ackee consumption in two parishes in Jamaica was determined for children and adults using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Random samples of ackee diets typically consumed were also collected and screened for hypoglycin content using HPLC. C-13 NMR and HPLC of the HG standard indicate its purity to be above 95%. Ackee consumption ranged from 29.11 g/day for children to 65.92 g/day for adults and was highest in the lower socio-economic groups. HG exposure levels in typical ackee diets were highest in young children compared to adults. This study is the first to quantify dietary exposure to HG by Jamaican consumers. The findings also support the fact that young children in lower socio-economic groups are the most affected by HG toxicity when it occurs.
Session 46I, Toxicology & Safety Evaluation
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