Lathyrism due to excessive consumption of Khesari dal can be prevented by which method?

KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018

Applied Nutrition & Dietetics

Easy

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2018

Explanation

Lathyrism is a neurological condition caused by the neurotoxin Beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA) found in Khesari dal (Lathyrus sativus).
The key property of the BOAA toxin is that it is highly soluble in water.
Parboiling involves partially boiling the dal, which causes the water-soluble BOAA toxin to leach out into the water.
By discarding the water after parboiling, the toxin is effectively removed, rendering the dal safe for consumption.

Option A: Dry heating or roasting does not remove the BOAA toxin. The process requires a solvent like water to leach out the toxin.
Option B: While soaking in hot water (steeping) can remove some toxin, simple soaking (especially in cold water) is significantly less effective and efficient than the more rigorous process of parboiling.
Option C: Filtration is a mechanical process used to separate solid particles from a liquid or gas. It is completely irrelevant for removing a toxin that is integrated within the solid structure of the dal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Prevention of foodborne toxicity, specifically Lathyrism as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses in community health settings have a vital role in educating populations, especially in endemic rural areas, about safe food preparation techniques like parboiling Khesari dal to prevent the debilitating and irreversible effects of lathyrism.
This is a key public health intervention that empowers communities to prevent a major nutritional disorder using a simple, low-cost, and accessible household method.
What if? If a person only roasts Khesari dal before consumption? Roasting is a form of dry heating and will not remove the water-soluble BOAA toxin. The risk of developing lathyrism would remain high, as the toxin would still be ingested.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key elements of the question: the disease (Lathyrism), the cause (Khesari dal), and the goal (prevention).
Recall the toxic agent in Khesari dal, which is the neurotoxin BOAA. The critical piece of information is the toxin's properties.
Remember or deduce that BOAA is a water-soluble toxin. This is the central clue to solving the problem.
Evaluate each option based on its ability to remove a water-soluble substance from a solid food.
Eliminate 'heating' (ineffective without water) and 'filtration' (irrelevant process).
Compare 'soaking' and 'parboiling'. Both use water, but parboiling is a more intensive process involving heat and boiling, which greatly enhances the leaching of the soluble toxin from the dal.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 181-183