Currently, it is the season for lychees to be on the market; however, it is said that "one lychee is equivalent to three fires," meaning lychees should not be consumed excessively.
Recently, a 6-year-old girl in Fujian ate a large amount of lychees on an empty stomach and subsequently experienced symptoms of drowsiness and cold sweat, indicative of hypoglycemia. Her family rushed her to the hospital. The diagnosis confirmed typical 'Lychee Disease,' also known as hypoglycemic encephalopathy or hypoglycemic coma, which can be life-threatening in severe cases. Doctors recommend consuming no more than 15 to 20 lychees per day, and children should consume half of that.
● Adults should not consume more than 20 lychees per day
According to Chinese media reports, a 6-year-old girl in Xiamen, Fujian, was taken to the hospital by her family and diagnosed with "Lychee Disease." Her parents reported that she felt hungry after coming home from school and ate over 10 lychees quickly while her elders were not paying attention, which immediately resulted in symptoms of drowsiness and cold sweat. Alarmed, the family swiftly took her to Xiamen Central Hospital.
After conducting a blood sugar test, the girl's blood sugar level was found to be approximately 3 mmol/L, meeting the standard for hypoglycemia. The doctor initially diagnosed her with "Lychee Disease." This condition refers to consuming an excessive amount of lychees, leading to symptoms of hypoglycemic encephalopathy and hypoglycemic coma, with severe cases potentially resulting in death. Lychees have a high sugar content, primarily fructose. When consumed, the body undergoes gluconeogenesis, and insulin is secreted to neutralize the sugar intake. However, excessive insulin secretion can trigger a hypoglycemic reaction.
Doctors advise that while lychees are high-sugar fruits, moderate consumption and avoiding eating them on an empty stomach pose no harm to the body. However, individuals with abnormal blood sugar regulation or insulin sensitivity should be cautious. Not only lychees but also other high-sugar food items like watermelon, apples, honey or sugary drinks can trigger similar hypoglycemic reactions.
Xu Xiaohong, a doctor from the Endocrinology Department of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, suggests that generally, an adult can consume 15 to 20 lychees a day, but children should consume half of this amount as children have a weaker capacity to regulate blood sugar levels compared to adults, making them more susceptible to "Lychee Disease."