Fava beans, also known as bell, broad, field or tic beans, are cultivated for food, particularly in Mediterranean dishes. They contain high amounts of protein and fiber and are low in fat. They are not known to cause disease themselves, but can interact with certain medications and diseases. A physician or other health-care professional should always be consulted in regards to diet and the treatment and diagnosis of disease.
Parkinson's Disease
L-DOPA, or levodopa, is a chemical precursor to dopamine. In Parkinson's disease, there is a progressive loss of dopamine supplying nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. This results in tremors, difficulty moving, psychiatric and cognitive difficulties. The levodopa in fava beans may help to alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson's disease, according to an article in the journal "Movement Disorders" in 2000. However, the concentration in the beans is variable, and so its concentration is less controlled than when given in pill form. In addition, caution must be observed; there have been cases of people who ingested large amounts of fava beans over prolonged periods getting sick from suddenly discontinuing their use, as noted by an article in "Movement Disorders" in 2005.
Depression
Fava beans contain high concentrations of the chemical tyramine. This compound is normally metabolized in the body by the enzyme monoamine oxidase, or MAO. Certain drugs for depression, such as MAO inhibitors, stop this enzyme from metabolizing chemicals. In the brain, this causes an increase in chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine that may alleviate depression and some other psychiatric diseases. However, in the body it also interferes with the metabolism of tyramine and similar compounds, according to "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" by Dr. Anthony Fauci and others. If foods such as fava beans are consumed while on MAO inhibitors, the blood pressure can rise dangerously.
G6PD Deficiency
According to "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease" by Vinay Kumar M.D., another enzyme in the body, called glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase, or G6PD, is important for metabolism in red blood cells, which are the predominant cell in the blood stream, and responsible for carrying oxygen. Some people have a defective G6PD, causing the red blood cells to die if fava beans or certain drugs are ingested. This disease is called favism.
Fava Bean Nutrients and Disease
The nutrients in fava beans may play a role in staving off some diseases. For example, fava beans are relatively high in fiber. According to the Mayo Clinic, fiber helps with gastrointestinal health, lowers blood cholesterol, helps to regulate blood sugar, helps with weight loss, and may decrease the rate of colorectal cancer.
Other nutrients must be considered as well. For example, the beans are high in protein. Some diseases, such as advanced liver disease, may require a decreased protein intake.
References
- "Movement Disorders"; "Broad bean (Vicia faba)--a natural source of L-dopa--prolongs "on" periods in patients with Parkinson's disease who have "on-off" fluctuations."; Apaydin et al; 2000
- "Movement Disorders"; "Case of neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome precipitated by abrupt fava bean discontinuance."; Ladha et al;2005
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" Anthony S Fauci et al; 17th Ed 2008
- "Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease"; Vinay Kumar et al; 9th Ed 2008
- Mayo Clinic; Dietary Fiber: Essential for a healthy diet
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