Common local snack. Satay-flavoured kacang parang sold at the 'kedai koperasi' of my workplace.
This picture gives a better idea as to what the bean looks like. Kacang parang with shell... In its original state, the beans are contained in pods similar to "petai"/
Source: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fail:YosriKacangParang.jpg
Source: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fail:YosriKacangParang.jpg
Almost wherever I go, I frequently come across them being sold as snacks at various shops as well as "kacang putih" stalls, be it at supermarkets, sundry shops, bus stops, as well as the shop at my workplace. There must be a high number of kacang parang lovers around or else what explains its sale at large scale throughout the country...
Kacang parang and I...
I used to buy 'kacang putih' - an assorted crispy snack with comprising various "kacang", and it contains kacang parang. The snack is famously sold around Ipoh by Indian peddlars on motorcycles.
For strange reasons, I would automatically pick out and get rid of all kacang parang before I settle to eat. This had been the phenomena since I was very young. Perhaps I found the shells a nuisance, perhaps I disliked its appearance. It wasn't in my wildest imagination I'd one day discover that I am related to G6PD deficiency, suspectedly from my mother's side of family... oh God, why am I created as a carrier of two X-linked conditions from both parents.... Either way, I am doomed especially when I only have sons, looks like it's either this or that and there's NWO (no way out).
What's it about the bean?
Favism refers to reaction towards fava bean - hemolysis. Or simply-called, the breakdown of red cells. Of course not everyone who eats kacang parang will get it, but individuals with G6PD deficiency have to be careful not to consume the bean.
The philosopher Pythagoras used to forbid his followers from eating fava beans, in fact also all other beans. Relating this to our knowledge today, this probably has something to do with the occurrence of favism upon its consumption.
Which in turn brings us to the following topic:
G6PD Deficiency (or 蚕豆症 in Chinese)
The infographic below illustrates what is G6PD deficiency:
I am not a medical doctor but merely a layperson whose life is related to the condition. So the purpose of my writing here is to share my humble knowledge on this topic, and *hopefully* also to increase our awareness on the condition. Among my sources of information are the handout I took from hospital, the website of the G6PD Deficiency Association at www.g6pd.org as well as my good cousin who is a hematologist. Ultimately, please consult an expert for advice / clarification.
Here we go...
1) G6PD stands for Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase. It is a type of enzyme in our red blood cells. G6PD protects red cells from breaking down.
2) G6PD deficiency is more prevalent among people from the Mediterranean, Africa, and South East Asia. These areas also happen to be malaria-prone places. G6PD deficiency itself offers a degree of protection against malaria.
World map distribution of G6PD deficiency. Source: The Lancet
3) In our country nowadays, the screening for G6PD deficiency is performed upon newborns on their respective cord blood. I am not sure when did this practice start, but I am sure that during the era when my brother and I were born, the screening wasn't a routine. Over here, G6PD deficient newborns will have to remain in ward for observation for 5 days.
4) G6PD deficiency is X-linked i.e. carried via the X chromosome.
5) Among the signs and symptoms of hemolysis are anemia (paleness, exhaustion, dizziness), rapid heartbeat, chest / back pain, jaundice, dark/tea-coloured urine.
6) G6PD deficiency is lifelong. But G6PD deficient persons should be able to live healthily just like any other normal persons provided they take care and not expose themselves to factors/substances that may trigger hemolysis, as shown in the following table:
The list is subject to revision from time to time, so it is not exhaustive.
7) More dos-and don't:
- The consumption of fava bean / broad bean / kacang parang is strictly prohibited for a G6PD deficient person;
- Please beware of the hidden content of kacang parang / fava beans in popular dishes, e.g. ful medames (an Egyptian breakfast dish) or kacang pool in Malaysia (most famous in Johor), dou ban jiang (豆瓣酱) - a famous spicy and salty paste from Sichuan, China - common ingredient in the famous "ma po dou fu" (麻婆豆腐)dish and a spicy sauce called ma la jiang (麻辣酱) from Sichuan, and zha jiang mian (炸酱面) from northern China. Since it's impossible to know the recipe of all dishes from around the world, caution is thus advised before consuming dishes containing beans;
- Contact through ingestion, touching or inhalation of moth balls ("ubat gegat") shall be avoided due to the content of Naphthalene in most of them;
- Medication-wise, to avoid using those stated in the list above;
- Certain traditional medicines are unsafe for G6PD deficient people, so to be safe, please refrain from consuming them on your own. A reputable local Chinese traditional medicine manufacturer even print warnings on some of its products like bao ying dan and pearl powder, that are known/believed to be unsuitable for G6PD deficient persons;
- Some suggest that it may be a good idea to wear a Medic Alert pendant/wristband which states "G6PD deficient" so that medical personnel who treat such person in an emergency will be aware of the condition.
Conclusion
Sometimes I am just a little concerned when I see kacang parang being sold abundantly at so many places, when so many of us (e.g. my generation and earlier) have never had our G6PD status tested.
If someone, be it adult or child, were to come over and I were to serve them snacks, I'll serve almost anything except kacang parang. I am afraid what if someone who is unknowingly G6PD deficient termakan the forbidden bean. At ward 2B HUKM - my home for 2 months, the nursing sister told that one of her nephews was admitted to ICU and had to be given blood transfusion after unknowingly consumed a dish that contained kacang parang at his friend's house.
