What potent toxins are found in unripe ackee that can cause Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (JVS)?
Answer
Hypoglycin A and Hypoglycin B
The ingestion of unripe ackee carries a severe risk due to the presence of potent toxins specifically identified as Hypoglycin A and Hypoglycin B. These compounds are responsible for inducing Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (JVS). The danger associated with JVS, particularly for individuals managing diabetes, stems from its ability to cause life-threatening, refractory hypoglycemia, which is severely low blood sugar. This happens because Hypoglycin A acts to shut down the body's ability to create new glucose in the liver, leading to dangerous energy depletion.
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