Abstract
The effects of dietary manipulations on autoimmune disease are understood poorly. In this article, we detail our experience with a human subject who developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia while participating in a research study that required the ingestion of alfalfa seeds. Subsequent experimentalstudies in primates ingesting alfalfa sprout seeds and L-canavanine (a prominent amino acid constituent of alfalfa) is presented. The results of these studies indicate a potential toxic and immunoregulatory role of L-canavanine in the induction of a systemic lupus-like disease in primates.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 323-332+x |
Journal | Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America |
Volume | 17 |
Issue number | 2 |
State | Published - 1991 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rheumatology