Fava Beans

The Basics

What is Fava Beans?

Fava beans may offer cardiovascular benefits and aid in weight management.

Brand names for Fava Beans

N/A

How Fava Beans is classified

Foodborne Diseases, Poisoning, Anemia, Hemolytic, Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency

Fava Beans During Pregnancy

Fava Beans pregnancy category

Category N/ANote that the FDA has deprecated the use of pregnancy categories, so for some medications, this information isn’t available. We still think it’s useful to list historical info, however, given what a common proxy this has been in the past.

What we know about taking Fava Beans while pregnant

N/A

Taking Fava Beans While Breastfeeding

What are recommendations for lactation if you're taking Fava Beans?

Fava beans contain the compounds vicine and convicine. These chemicals are metabolized to divicine and isouramil, which are potent oxidizing agents. In persons with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, these compounds cause hemolysis by disrupting the red cell wall. Many cases of hemolysis, and subsequent hyperbilirubinemia have been reported in breastfed infants after maternal fava bean intake. Most of the cases have been reported from around the Mediterranean and Middle East or in infants whose heritage was from this region. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency is relatively high in this geographic area, where perhaps more susceptible variants occur-at least 14 variants of G6PD deficiency are known. Most reports are of male infants, but some female infants have been affected. Favism via breastmilk can be quite severe. One breastfed infant developed renal cortical necrosis following maternal fava bean ingestion. The infant died of renal failure in the hospital 10 days after maternal fava bean ingestion. Mothers nursing a G6PD deficient infant should not consume fava beans.

Maternal / infant drug levels

Fava beans contain the compounds vicine and convicine. These chemicals are metabolized to divicine and isouramil, which are potent oxidizing agents. In persons with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, these compounds cause hemolysis by disrupting the red cell wall. Many cases of hemolysis, and subsequent hyperbilirubinemia have been reported in breastfed infants after maternal fava bean intake. Most of the cases have been reported from around the Mediterranean and Middle East or in infants whose heritage was from this region. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency is relatively high in this geographic area, where perhaps more susceptible variants occur-at least 14 variants of G6PD deficiency are known. Most reports are of male infants, but some female infants have been affected. Favism via breastmilk can be quite severe. One breastfed infant developed renal cortical necrosis following maternal fava bean ingestion. The infant died of renal failure in the hospital 10 days after maternal fava bean ingestion. Mothers nursing a G6PD deficient infant should not consume fava beans.

Possible effects of Fava Beans on milk supply

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Possible alternatives to Fava Beans

None listed