Contents
Over the years, the inhabitants of a French village in the foothills of the Alps collected and ate mushrooms they considered morels (pictured left). It turned out that they fed on poison, which increased the risk of developing a severe neurological disease 20 times, causing e.g. muscle atrophy and paralysis.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurological disease whose causes are not fully established. One of the reasons that increases the likelihood of getting sick is the presence of toxins in the body
- French and American researchers concluded that they may be fungal genotoxins that degrade motor neurons
- Consuming poisonous mushrooms may have increased the incidence of ALS in a small alpine village in France
- More information can be found on the TvoiLokony home page
French and American scientists decided to take a closer look at the inhabitants of a small town in the French Savoy. It’s here There were 14 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in the last 22 years, which is 20 times the national average. The research lasted 10 years and it was possible to find factors that connected all those affected by the disease.
The text continues below the video
They were collecting fake morels
Genetic causes were excluded. Scientists looked at environmental factors, but also ruled them out, such as pollutants in soil and water. So they began to investigate behavioral factors, revealing a network of connections between the villagers and their lifestyle. It turned out, among other things, that most of them are athletic, muscular people and that many of them smoke tobacco. But the most important link turned out to be poisonous mushrooms. One of the local delicacies was for many years morels – mushrooms with a characteristic, folded structure and a delicate, refined taste. But the villagers only thought they were picking these delicious mushrooms, in fact they were so-called false morels, known in Poland as giant fries (Gyromitra gigas).
- See also: Mushroom poisoning
A dangerous giant chrysanthemum
The charlock is easy to confuse with the common, edible morels, and in the past, some of its species were considered edible until they were known to be toxic to the human body. Piestrzenica was massively sold at stalls and consumed. When it was found that it could cause poisoning, it was forbidden to sell. The gyromitrin contained in it causes gastrointestinal disorders, damage to the liver, spleen, kidneys, bone marrow and eyesight. The piebaldry can theoretically be detoxified by drying or long-term cooking. However, because it is difficult to determine after what time of thermal treatment, gyromitrin loses its poisonous properties, in most European countries it is considered a poisonous fungus and is not admitted to trade.
- See also: Poisonous mushrooms – how do they poison the body? Description of species and symptoms of mushroom poisoning
What is Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis?
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a very serious condition involving damage to the central and / or peripheral nervous system. The main symptoms include limb muscle wasting, muscle fasciculations, and a gradual loss of mobility. In the last stages of the disease, most of the muscles in the body are paralyzedare also damaged, among others the nerves responsible for breathing. The causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are not entirely clear. It is said that ALS can be caused by various types of immunological diseases, the action of free oxygen radicals, the action of toxins or as a result of viral infections.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
ALS is a rare disease. Usually, one or two out of 100 people suffer from it. people. In France, it suffers from around 7. residents. That is why researchers were interested in a large cluster of cases in one place. Research conducted on a group of residents of a French village found that many of them reported symptoms of acute poisoning after ingesting Gyromitra gigas mushrooms. This finding supports the hypothesis that fungal genotoxins can induce the degeneration of motor neurons and thus, in some cases, cause disease.
Also read:
- Mushroom poisoning. The fulminant liver failure is the beginning. “The pathology spiral is unrolling”
- Emperor Claudius died in agony. Experts believe that he was poisoned with mushrooms
- Satanic boletus – appearance, symptoms of poisoning, detoxification
The content of the medTvoiLokony website is intended to improve, not replace, the contact between the Website User and their doctor. The website is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Before following the specialist knowledge, in particular medical advice, contained on our Website, you must consult a doctor. The Administrator does not bear any consequences resulting from the use of information contained on the Website.
Do you need a medical consultation or an e-prescription? Go to halodoctor.pl, where you will get online help – quickly, safely and without leaving your home.