Neurology Unit, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan , Ibadan , Nigeria .
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2013 Dec;64(8):1036-41. doi: 10.3109/09637486.2013.825697. Epub 2013 Aug 15.
Exposure to cyanide is a major public health problem where highly cyanogenic cassava foods are consumed. Thiocyanate (SCN), the biomarker of exposure to cyanide is present in several foods, and produced endogenously. Concentrations of urine SCN were measured in endemic and non-endemic areas of ataxic polyneuropathy in Nigeria. Cassava food consumption in the endemic area was twice that of non-endemic areas. Geometrical mean (95% CI) urine SCN was 20 µmol/l (18-24) for no consumption of cassava foods, 56 µmol/l (49-64) for daily consumption, 56 µmol/l (48-65) for twice daily consumption and 85 µmol/l (62-117) for thrice daily consumption. 95th percentile reference limit was 125 µmol/l for no consumption of cassava food, but 360 µmol/l for thrice daily consumption. Urine SCN is a useful biomarker of exposure to cyanide from cassava foods. There is strong ecological association of exposure to cyanide and endemicity of ataxic polyneuropathy.
氰化物暴露是一个主要的公共卫生问题，在摄入富含氰甙的木薯食物的地区尤为严重。硫氰酸盐（SCN）是氰化物暴露的生物标志物，存在于多种食物中，并在体内产生。在尼日利亚的共济失调性多发性神经病地方性流行区和非流行区测量了尿 SCN 浓度。在地方性流行区，摄入的木薯食物是无流行区的两倍。不食用木薯食物的尿 SCN 的几何均数（95%CI）为 20µmol/L（18-24），每日食用为 56µmol/L（49-64），每日食用两次为 56µmol/L（48-65），每日食用三次为 85µmol/L（62-117）。不食用木薯食物的 95%参考限值为 125µmol/L，而每日食用三次的参考限值为 360µmol/L。尿 SCN 是木薯食物中氰化物暴露的有用生物标志物。氰化物暴露与共济失调性多发性神经病的地方性流行之间存在强烈的生态学关联。
