Case series / case reportcited by the Tayebat archiveabstract only checked A-VEG-08 standard review
Courgette soup poisoning in two babies
Methemoglobinemia caused by the ingestion of courgette soup given in order to resolve constipation in two formula-fed infants.
Overview
Savino F et al.. Ann Nutr Metab 2006 · PMID 16809905 · DOI 10.1159/000094301
Two infants under 3 months developed methaemoglobinaemia from concentrated courgette soup.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: low
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
Report cases
- How was the study done?
Case report
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
2 infants
- What was actually found?
Methaemoglobinaemia
- How large was the observed effect?
30.4% and 27%
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
Don't give vegetable broths to young infants.
- What are the study's limitations?
Two cases
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Infant-specific
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
High
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot show harm in adults.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- Savino F, Maccario S, Guidi C, Castagno E, Farinasso D, Cresi F, Silvestro L, Mussa GC
- Journal
- Ann Nutr Metab
- Year
- 2006
- Identifier
- PMID 16809905 DOI 10.1159/000094301
- Verification
- verified – PubMed E-utilities efetch, 2026-10-25
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
- none
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
not stated in abstract
2. Research question
Report infant methaemoglobinaemia from courgette soup.
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Case series / case report – Case report (2 infants)
- Population
Two formula-fed infants aged 1 and 2 months
- Country
Italy
- Period
Not stated
- Sample size
2
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Not applicable
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Formula reconstituted with concentrated courgette soup
- Comparator
None
- Endpoints
Methaemoglobin
- Statistical methods
Not applicable
5. Actual results
- Results
Methaemoglobin 30.4% and 27%; severe cyanosis; treated with methylene blue; resolved within 12 h.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Do not feed infants high-nitrate vegetables (courgette, spinach, beets, green beans) to resolve constipation, especially in the first months.
6. Strengths
- Clear clinical documentation
7. Weaknesses
- Two cases
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Case report.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Not applicable.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Supports C-VEG-07.
11. Independent contrary findings
Greer 2005 (breastfed infants not at risk).
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
High.
13. Overall methodological judgement
Infant-specific.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | low |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | not applicable |
| Directness | direct |
| Reproducibility | replicated |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | high |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | taken out of context |
14. Open questions
None.
15. Linked fact checks
- Nitrate-rich vegetables (e.g. courgette soup) given to young infants can cause severe methaemoglobinaemia. – Studies supporting the claim
- Nitrate from fertilisers (together with pesticides) in lettuce, rocket and other leaves harms the people who eat them. – Studies with mixed or unclear results
Use by the Tayebat archive
Note: according to the archive, the studies were compiled by the archive operators. Whether Dr. Elawady himself cited this study is not established.
- What the archive says about the study
Bibliography + narrative: courgette soup in infants <3 months caused methaemoglobinaemia.
- A. What was actually studied?
Two infant cases.
- B. What did the authors find?
Severe but reversible methaemoglobinaemia.
- C. What conclusions do the authors themselves draw?
Avoid high-nitrate vegetables in young infants.
- D. What does the archive derive from it?
Used against greens/cucurbits in general.
- E. Is this derivation scientifically justified?
Justified only for young infants.
- Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive)
- taken out of context