Favism is a disorder that arises when individuals consume fava beans (Vicia fava) or come into contact with the fava plant's pollen, leading to the destruction of red blood cells. This severe reaction is seen only in those who have a deficiency in the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which is an X-linked genetic trait. Interestingly, not all families with G6PD deficiency are vulnerable to this condition, suggesting that an additional autosomal gene (not linked to the X chromosome) might be necessary to make G6PD-deficient individuals susceptible to favism. The likely culprit in fava beans is DOPA-quinone. Variations in susceptibility to favism may be due to differences in the enzymatic processes that convert L-DOPA into DOPA-quinone.
