Dórea José G
Faculdade de Ciĉncias da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2004 Mar;57(3):248-56. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2003.12.008.
The two most important staple foods (cassava and fish) in the diet of native Amazonians contain neurotoxins (linamarin and monomethyl mercury, MMHg). These same neurotoxins are public health issues in other parts of the world. Factors such as chemistry, environment, and human ecology determine the endemism of neuropathies caused by consumption of cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and fish. Linamarin is a natural component of cassava tubers that can be destroyed before consumption by proper processing. Furthermore, small amounts of the toxin absorbed by people consuming cassava can be effectively metabolized if the diet contains adequate protein-containing sulfur amino acids. Naturally occurring Hg in the waters of the Amazonian rain forest is methylated to MMHg by microorganisms and bioconcentrated in the aquatic food chain. There is no effective method for MMHg removal from fish. Despite high concentrations of naturally occurring neurotoxins in cassava (linamarin) and fish (MMHg), daily consumption of these foods in large amounts over the course of a lifetime poses no health hazards for Amazonians.
亚马孙地区原住民饮食中两种最重要的主食（木薯和鱼类）含有神经毒素（亚麻苦苷和一甲基汞，MMHg）。同样的这些神经毒素在世界其他地区也是公共卫生问题。化学、环境和人类生态等因素决定了因食用木薯（Manihot esculenta Crantz）和鱼类而导致的神经病变的地方病情况。亚麻苦苷是木薯块茎的天然成分，可通过适当加工在食用前被破坏。此外，如果饮食中含有足够的含硫氨基酸蛋白质，食用木薯的人吸收的少量毒素可被有效代谢。亚马孙雨林水域中天然存在的汞被微生物甲基化为一甲基汞，并在水生食物链中生物富集。目前没有从鱼类中去除一甲基汞的有效方法。尽管木薯（亚麻苦苷）和鱼类（一甲基汞）中天然存在高浓度的神经毒素，但亚马孙人一生大量食用这些食物对健康并无危害。
