Isovaleric and α-Methylbutyric Acidemias Induced by Hypoglycin A: Mechanism of Jamaican Vomiting Sickness

Abstract

Hypoglycin A, the causative agent of the Jamaican vomiting sickness, produced a marked increase in concentration of isovaleric acid in the plasma of rats, when administered in a single dose. α-Methylbutyric acid, a position isomer, also accumulated. The use of hypoglycin A reproduced some features of human isovaleric acidemia. Accumulation of these branched pentanoic acids may be another factor contributing to the pathogenesis of the Jamaican vomiting sickness.