X

The mystery surrounding the death of a person after eating lychees has sparked widespread concern and debate. Every year, as lychees come into season, rumors and reports of death linked to eating lychees resurface, leaving many to wonder if there is any truth to these claims. To unravel the mystery, let's delve into the facts and scientific research. In 2014, a significant incident occurred in Muzaffarpur, India, where 122 children died after eating lychees. Similar cases have been reported in China, where children have fallen into a coma or even died after consuming lychees on an empty stomach, a condition commonly referred to as "lychee disease."

Initially, it was believed that the high sugar content in lychees triggered an overproduction of insulin, leading to low blood sugar and subsequently, coma or death. However, this theory couldn't explain why other fruits rich in sugar, such as watermelon, grapes, pears, and cherries, didn't seem to cause the same issue. A 2017 study published in The Lancet Global Health discovered that "lychee disease" is, in fact, an acute neurological disorder that often presents with low blood sugar symptoms.

Further investigation revealed that immature lychees contain two toxins: hypoglycin A and methylenecyclopropaneacetic acid. These toxins affect the body's glucose metabolism, inhibit normal fat oxidation and gluconeogenesis, exacerbate nighttime hypoglycemia, and disrupt the body's self-protective mechanisms, leading to severe hypoglycemic reactions and explosive brain seizures. Notably, children are more vulnerable to "lychee disease" due to their incomplete physical development.

The research analyzed over 400 cases in India and found that the disease typically occurs when children from poor families eat large quantities of unripe lychees while playing in lychee orchards, then skip dinner, and experience symptoms like dizziness and vomiting at night. The conditions that lead to death from eating lychees are very specific: children + empty stomach + large quantities + unripe lychees. For ordinary consumers, eating a large amount of unripe lychees in one sitting is highly unlikely, so even eating lychees on an empty stomach should not be a significant concern.

Despite the low probability of death from eating lychees, news reports of "lychee disease" and related deaths continue to surface every year. However, a closer examination reveals that these reports often cite the same cases from previous years or even decades ago. For instance, a 2000 study published in the Guangxi Medical Journal analyzed 71 cases of children who fell ill after eating lychees in 1999, resulting in 10 deaths due to delayed treatment or diagnosis.

The crucial takeaway is that while lychees do contain toxins that can lead to "lychee disease" under specific conditions, the risk is relatively low, and the occurrence of death is extremely rare. Consuming lychees in moderation, as recommended by the Chinese Dietary Guidelines (200-350 grams of fruit per day, or approximately 10-17 lychees), should not pose a significant threat to one's health. In fact, the primary concern with eating lychees is overconsumption, as they are high in sugar and can cause issues like weight gain, dry mouth, and acne.

A recent social media trend in China, where a litchi's status sparked a nationwide conversation, highlights the power of online discourse in shaping public perception. The incident, which began with a simple question about the litchi's status, escalated into a broader discussion about the nature of online trends and the role of social media in contemporary society. Users expressed a range of emotions, from concern and disbelief to amusement and indifference, showcasing the diverse and often eclectic nature of online interactions.

The litchi, once an ordinary fruit, had become an unlikely symbol of the ephemeral and often absurd nature of online trends. As users continued to speculate about its status, the broader conversation turned to the role of social media in shaping public discourse and the blurred lines between the mundane and the extraordinary in the digital world. Whether the litchi was indeed "dead" became less relevant than the robust discussion it ignited about life, attention, and community in the age of the internet.