ABSTRACT
When relatively high concentrations of vicine and convicine were fed, only small quantities of these compounds were excreted in the feces and urine, which suggests that they are nearly completely converted into their aglycones in the gastrointestinal tract. Vicine and convicine are then hydrolyzed as discussed previously by the microorganism in the digesta to their aglycones, which in turn were absorbed. Additional research, however, must be carried out to clarify the effects of vicine, convicine, and the oxidized and reduced forms of their aglycones on pancreatic function. Recent studies, as discussed subsequently, have strongly implicated divicine and isouramil, the aglycones of vicine and convicine, as the causative agents of favism, with a deficiency of G6PD being a predisposing factor. D Although the aglycones of vicine and convicine have been most extensively studied relative to their ability to induce favism in susceptible individuals, they also seem to produce other, perhaps subclinical, effects in humans.
