Lathyrism (also known as neurolathyrism) is a disorder that develops who eat the grass pea Lathyrus sativus for a prolonged period.
Plant: Lathyrus sativus (grass pea or khesari)
Distribution: tropics and subtropics in Africa, India and China
Toxin: beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA)
Mechanism: The toxin interferes with high-affinity uptake of glutamate transport by synaptosomes. Long term use results in neural degeneration in the spinal cord with pallor of the fasciculi gracilis.
The risk of intoxication increases during periods of drought and famine when the seeds may become the primary foodstuff. It takes 2 to 6 months of daily ingestion to become symptomatic. The risk of toxicity is low if it forms only part of the diet or eaten intermittently.
Clinical findings:
(1) aching in the waist
(2) rigidity in the calf muscles
(3) spastic paralysis of the legs (limping if mild, crawling if severe)
(4) no loss in sensory function
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