Lupin poisoning: a review

IntroductionLupin beans are the seeds of plants from the Fabaceae family. These beans are rich in protein and used for human consumption for several millennia. Their popularity is still increasing. Some species produce beans with high alkaloid contents, specifically of spartaine and lupanine. Withou...

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Main Authors: Meye Bloothooft, Pien Cremers, Sükriye Güven, Stijn J. Stoutjesdijk, Mara Jiron, Mark Wessel, Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Toxicology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1547535/full
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author Meye Bloothooft
Pien Cremers
Sükriye Güven
Stijn J. Stoutjesdijk
Mara Jiron
Mark Wessel
Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden
author_facet Meye Bloothooft
Pien Cremers
Sükriye Güven
Stijn J. Stoutjesdijk
Mara Jiron
Mark Wessel
Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden
author_sort Meye Bloothooft
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionLupin beans are the seeds of plants from the Fabaceae family. These beans are rich in protein and used for human consumption for several millennia. Their popularity is still increasing. Some species produce beans with high alkaloid contents, specifically of spartaine and lupanine. Without proper processing, consuming these beans can result in lupin poisoning that causes anticholinergic syndrome. We systematically analyzed all case reports describing lupin poisoning in humans in order to define most observed clinical findings, treatment options and outcome.MethodsWe screened Pubmed and Google scholar for human case reports on lupin poisoning. Obtained full-text papers in any language were screened for eligibility. Demographics, time-to-symptoms, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Symptoms were categorized using the ICD11 classification.ResultsTwenty-seven case reports describing 33 patients were obtained. Poisoning occurred in all age groups and sexes equally. Most frequent symptoms were bilateral mydriasis (n = 25), xerostomia (n = 25), blurred vision (n = 17), lightheadedness (n = 14), weakness (n = 11). Onset of symptoms was typically within 60 min. In most cases no treatment was required, and symptoms resolved within 24 h after which patients were discharged. Two of four children in the cohort required ICU admission and one died.DiscussionLupin poisoning is rare and requires most often a conservative clinical approach. However, in children the effects are more severe than in adults. Frequency of lupin poisoning may rise due to increased popularity of the beans as an alternative protein source.
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spelling doaj-art-d21b1a1a6c23451c88656b33ecf4e0a22025-08-20T02:16:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Toxicology2673-30802025-04-01710.3389/ftox.2025.15475351547535Lupin poisoning: a reviewMeye Bloothooft0Pien Cremers1Sükriye Güven2Stijn J. Stoutjesdijk3Mara Jiron4Mark Wessel5Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden6Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours Program CRU+ Bachelor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours Program CRU+ Bachelor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours Program CRU+ Bachelor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours Program CRU+ Bachelor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsHonours Program CRU+ Bachelor, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, NetherlandsIntroductionLupin beans are the seeds of plants from the Fabaceae family. These beans are rich in protein and used for human consumption for several millennia. Their popularity is still increasing. Some species produce beans with high alkaloid contents, specifically of spartaine and lupanine. Without proper processing, consuming these beans can result in lupin poisoning that causes anticholinergic syndrome. We systematically analyzed all case reports describing lupin poisoning in humans in order to define most observed clinical findings, treatment options and outcome.MethodsWe screened Pubmed and Google scholar for human case reports on lupin poisoning. Obtained full-text papers in any language were screened for eligibility. Demographics, time-to-symptoms, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Symptoms were categorized using the ICD11 classification.ResultsTwenty-seven case reports describing 33 patients were obtained. Poisoning occurred in all age groups and sexes equally. Most frequent symptoms were bilateral mydriasis (n = 25), xerostomia (n = 25), blurred vision (n = 17), lightheadedness (n = 14), weakness (n = 11). Onset of symptoms was typically within 60 min. In most cases no treatment was required, and symptoms resolved within 24 h after which patients were discharged. Two of four children in the cohort required ICU admission and one died.DiscussionLupin poisoning is rare and requires most often a conservative clinical approach. However, in children the effects are more severe than in adults. Frequency of lupin poisoning may rise due to increased popularity of the beans as an alternative protein source.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1547535/fulllupinalkaloidL. albusL. mutabilisanticholinergic syndromeACS
spellingShingle Meye Bloothooft
Pien Cremers
Sükriye Güven
Stijn J. Stoutjesdijk
Mara Jiron
Mark Wessel
Marcel A. G. Van Der Heyden
Lupin poisoning: a review
Frontiers in Toxicology
lupin
alkaloid
L. albus
L. mutabilis
anticholinergic syndrome
ACS
title Lupin poisoning: a review
title_full Lupin poisoning: a review
title_fullStr Lupin poisoning: a review
title_full_unstemmed Lupin poisoning: a review
title_short Lupin poisoning: a review
title_sort lupin poisoning a review
topic lupin
alkaloid
L. albus
L. mutabilis
anticholinergic syndrome
ACS
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2025.1547535/full
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AT marcelagvanderheyden lupinpoisoningareview