In patients with G6PD deficiency, which dietary exposure should be avoided due to potential hemolysis risk?

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Multiple Choice

In patients with G6PD deficiency, which dietary exposure should be avoided due to potential hemolysis risk?

G6PD deficiency makes red blood cells vulnerable to oxidative stress because NADPH-dependent glutathione recycling is impaired, so reactive oxygen species accumulate and damage the cells. Fava beans contain oxidant compounds like divicine and vicine that provoke this oxidative burst, causing Heinz body formation and hemolysis—classic favism in susceptible individuals. Citrus fruits, gluten, and dairy do not provide these strong oxidative agents and are not known dietary triggers for hemolysis in G6PD deficiency. So the exposure to fava beans is the one to avoid to reduce hemolysis risk.

G6PD deficiency makes red blood cells vulnerable to oxidative stress because NADPH-dependent glutathione recycling is impaired, so reactive oxygen species accumulate and damage the cells. Fava beans contain oxidant compounds like divicine and vicine that provoke this oxidative burst, causing Heinz body formation and hemolysis—classic favism in susceptible individuals. Citrus fruits, gluten, and dairy do not provide these strong oxidative agents and are not known dietary triggers for hemolysis in G6PD deficiency. So the exposure to fava beans is the one to avoid to reduce hemolysis risk.

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