Whole blood cyanide levels of mainly dietary origin in a human population sample in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Whole blood cyanide levels in a human population sample of volunteers known to each gari-based meals at least once a day were determined. The most widely eaten cassava product in the area of research is gari. The mean blood cyanide obtained for healthy normal volunteers was 0.294 +/- 0.09 mumol/L while the value for sicklers was 0.398 +/- 0.008 mumol/L, indicating the possibility of reduced rate of metabolism and excretion of cyanide by sicklers as compared to non-sicklers. Investigation of post-absorption distribution indicated that whole blood cyanide increased by 0.014 mumol/L, 3-4 hours after a gari-based meal in normal volunteers. A decrease of 0.012 mumol/L occurred after a whole-rice meal. The increase in plasma cyanide 2-3 hours after a gari-based meal was about 25% more than the increase in erythrocyte cyanide suggesting a significant contribution of plasma cyanide to whole blood cyanide levels. 0.013-0.015 mg cyanide per kg of gari was determined for samples of this staple food in the locality of research.
Uwakwe
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Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Monanu
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Anosike
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood*; D003486:Cyanides / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000506:poisoning; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002365:Manihot; D009549:Nigeria; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry
D003486:Cyanides