Starfruits poisoned Malaysian!
PETALING JAYA: Two local medical experts give their opinions on the case of a Malaysian been diagnosed as suffering from “food poisoning” after eating starfruits in Shenzhen, China.
Prof Mustaffa Ali Mohd, of the Pharmacology Department of the Medical Faculty, Universiti Malaya (UM), told theSun the common starfruit (averhoacarambola) is not known to contain neurotoxins that may cause adverse neurological complications when consumed.
However, he said the fruit has certain biological compounds called oxalates that can cause the formation of stones in certain organs in the body. “When oxalates bind with calcium and other mineral salts in the human body they could calcify (solidify) to form stones in certain internal organs such
as the kidneys, as well as the gall and urinary bladders,” According to news reports on Monday, the 66-year-old Malaysian, Tan Gong Sean, a retired Chinese school headmaster from Butterworth, and more than a dozen Chinese locals were in comatose in a hospital in Shenzhen, after eating the popular tropical fruit, also known as coromandel gooseberry or fivefingers.
Two other locals were said to have died after eating the fruit which an American health website, www.pubmed.gov, claims contains neurotoxins that can cause severe neurological complications, especially in patients, with chronic renal disease. However, Mustaffa, who also heads the Shimadzu-UMMC Centre for Xenobiotic Studies and is a deputy dean of the UM medical faculty, said he is not aware of such toxins being present in the fruit or of any such study published in any pharmacological or medical journals.
He also told theSun no cases similar to the Shenhzen incidence have been reported in Malaysian hospitals although the fruit is popular among Malaysians. He said one way to prevent calcium oxalate stones is to drink enough water and pass urine as frequently as possible. “Anyone who takes food or other plant-foods containing high amounts of oxalates, such as the starfruit must also pass urine as soon as there is an urge and not delay or “put the urge on hold” for long durations to avoid calcification.”
Other fruits and vegetables that contain oxalates are: blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, currants, kiwifruit, concord (purple) grapes, figs, tangerines, and plums. Vegetables which are rich in oxalates are spinach, beet greens, okra (ladies fingers) parsley, leeks, celery and green beans. Almonds, cashews, peanuts, soybean, tofu, wheat bran, wheat germ, cocoa, chocolate and black tea are also rich in oxalates.
Starfruits can also be distilled into wine. In Myanmar, it is used for making a tea-beverage and in Malaysia, diabetics consume the fruit or its juice in large amounts to regulate blood-glucose levels. Besides papaya and pineapples, Malaysia is also a major exporter of starfruits to Asia, Europe and America.
Meanwhile, University Malaya Medical Centre consultant nephrologist Prof Dr Tan Si Yen warned yesterday that neurotoxins in starfruits are dangerous to patients suffering from kidney problems. “Starfruits are usually very safe, but it is very dangerous for those undergoing dialysis or suffering from kidney problems. 100ml of the juice is enough to cause kidney failure,” said Tan when commenting on Gong Sean’s case.
However, Tan said starfruit poisoning can be treated successfully if caught early enough. “Although the risk of death is high, if (the poisoning) is caught early, with aggressive daily dialysis, the patient can be saved,“ said Tan, adding that while being a cause of kidney stones, oxalic acid, which is high in starfruits, is completely distinct from the neurotoxin which he confirmed is unique to starfruits.
“The neurotoxin is not oxalic acid. However, too much oxalic acid can cause kidney stones “The neurotoxin itself has not been identified, but it has been proven to be unique to starfruits,” said Tan. The symptoms of starfruit poisoning include persistent hiccups, vomiting, agitation, mental confusion and convulsions.
Source: TheSun - Malaysia
