Tag: Encephalopathy

Clinical cases have demonstrated that carnitine deficiency can lead to severe hyperammonemia, a potentially life-threatening condition. This intricate link stems from how the body's disrupted fatty acid metabolism profoundly affects the liver's critical ammonia detoxification pathway.

In severe cases, thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency can lead to a neurological disorder known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS), where altered mental status is a hallmark clinical symptom. This condition illustrates the profound impact a simple nutrient deficit can have on complex brain functions and cognition.

An estimated 80% of individuals with long-term alcohol addiction experience a thiamin deficiency. This severe and progressive deficiency has a specific name: Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome (WKS), a serious neurological disorder with two distinct phases that most often affects alcoholics.

Molybdenum deficiency in healthy humans is extremely rare, with documented cases almost exclusively tied to a rare genetic disorder known as Molybdenum Cofactor Deficiency (MoCD). This inherited metabolic disease prevents the body from utilizing the trace mineral, leading to severe and often fatal consequences shortly after birth.

According to a 2017 report in *The Lancet Global Health*, outbreaks of a mysterious, deadly brain disease in children in India were linked to the consumption of lychees, particularly unripe ones. This discovery raised global awareness about the potential risks associated with this tropical fruit under specific conditions.

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder, estimated to occur in 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 newborns, and is the primary condition associated with molybdenum deficiency. This metabolic defect leads to a buildup of toxic substances, causing profound and progressive brain dysfunction, seizures, and developmental delay.

Lychee seeds contain potent toxic compounds, specifically hypoglycin A and its analog methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG), which makes them unsafe for direct consumption. The edible flesh of the fruit, however, is perfectly safe and delicious.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, untreated Wernicke encephalopathy can lead to permanent damage. It is caused by a severe deficiency of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, which impairs the brain's energy metabolism.

According to reports, since the 1990s, annual outbreaks of a mysterious neurological illness in children have been linked to eating lychee fruit in regions of India and Vietnam. The culprit behind this phenomenon is not a virus or bacteria, but two naturally occurring toxins within the fruit itself. What is the toxin in lychee fruit? The answer lies in the potent compounds hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropylglycine (MCPG).

Reports from India and Vietnam linked mass outbreaks of acute encephalopathy to the consumption of litchi on an empty stomach, particularly among malnourished children. Understanding why not to eat litchi on an empty stomach is crucial to prevent serious health complications, as the fruit contains natural toxins that disrupt the body's glucose production when reserves are low.