Lima beans contain cyanogenetic glycosides. People have died from eating too much of the wrong kind.
Plant: Phaseolus lunatus
Cyanogenic glycoside: linamarin and lotsaustralin
Lethal dose of hydrogen cyanide in an adult: 50 - 250 mg
Amount of HCN that can be released by some strains: 300 mg in 100 g of seeds
Amount of HCN that can be released by strains consumed in industrialized countries: 10 mg in 100 g of seeds
Risk factors for intoxication:
(1) eating beans from a strain with high levels of cyanogenic glycosides
(2) large or multiple servings
(3) extremes of age (very young or very old)
(4) improper preparation (people who regularly consume potentially toxic lima beans will usually have preparatory steps that remove some of the toxin)
(5) slow gastrointestinal transit (allowing more of the toxic compounds to be absorbed)
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Specialty: Toxicology, Emergency Medicine, Critical Care
ICD-10: ,
