Influence of Diet on the Acute Toxicity of Hypoglycin-A in Rats

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Abstract
Hypoglycin-A is a toxic polypeptide isolated from the fruit of Blighia sapida. Doses of hypoglycin-A ranging from 10-150 [mu]g per g of rat were administered to rats fed 3 diets a high-carbohydrate, low protein diet based on dietaries of poorer Jamaicans, the same diet modified by replacement of some carbohydrate by an additional 10% of protein, and a high protein stock rat diet (Purina Laboratory Chow). A definite increase in susceptibility to hypoglycin-A toxicity was noted in the rats fed the low protein "Jamaican" diet. It is suggested that carbohydrate: protein ratio in the diet is a factor which influences toxicity of hypoglycin-A.