Manihot esculenta

Cassava/Drug Interactions:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Hemorrhaging occurred in a study of dogs fed a protein-sufficient diet in combination with cassava (32). Secondary sources present theoretical evidence that chondroitin and yucca may interact to increase the risk of bleeding.
  • ContraceptivesContraceptives: Secondary sources suggest that yucca (cassava is the root of the yucca plant) may have estrogen-like actions and interact with Mestranol/Norethindrone? and Ethinyl Estradiol (60).
  • IodineIodine: According to a review, cassava consumption may decrease the effectiveness of iodized oil as a prophylactic measure against iodine deficiency (61).
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: Several lines of evidence (human, animal, and in vivo) suggest that cassava has marked antithyroid effects, particularly in the presence of poor processing and a protein-deficient diet (23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 46). In humans, the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine were significantly lower after nine consecutive days of consuming boiled cassava leaves (200g twice daily) (24).

    • Cassava/Herb/Supplement Interactions:

  • Anticoagulants and antiplateletsAnticoagulants and antiplatelets: Hemorrhaging occurred in a study of dogs fed a protein-sufficient diet in combination with cassava (32). Secondary sources present theoretical evidence that chondroitin and yucca may interact to increase the risk of bleeding by significantly decreasing platelet count.
  • ChondroitinChondroitin: Secondary sources present theoretical evidence that chondroitin and yucca may interact to increase the risk of bleeding by significantly decreasing platelet count.
  • Hormonal agentsHormonal agents: Secondary sources suggest that yucca (cassava is the root of the yucca plant) may have estrogen-like actions (60).
  • IodineIodine: According to a review, cassava consumption may decrease the effectiveness of iodized oil as a prophylactic measure against iodine deficiency (61).
  • Thyroid agentsThyroid agents: Several lines of evidence (human, animal and in vivo) suggest that cassava has marked antithyroid effects, particularly in the presence of poor processing and a protein-deficient diet (23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 46). In humans, the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine were significantly lower after nine consecutive days of consuming boiled cassava leaves (200g twice daily) (24).

    • Cassava/Food Interactions:

  • Low-protein dietsLow-protein diets: Potentially toxic levels of cyanic glycosides are naturally present in cassava, and, if not removed during processing, they are converted to hydrogen cyanide, cyanohydrins, and thiocyanates, which may cause a number of metabolic diseases and in some cases death, particularly in the presence of protein-deficient diets (19; 29; 30; 31; 5; 58). Individuals with low protein intake (low cysteine in particular) are more susceptible to cyanide poisoning, because the detoxification of cyanide requires cysteine as a substrate (5).

    • Cassava/Lab Interactions:

  • Glycemic index (GI)Glycemic index (GI): In a human study, the glycemic index of cassava was reported to be relatively high, at 94 (62), but the GI may vary with mode of preparation (63). Among diabetics, the GI of cassava differed significantly from white bread (GI=100), which is a standard comparator (64).
  • MineralsMinerals: A study of dogs fed a protein-sufficient diet in combination with cassava (expected to release 10.8mg of hydrogen cyanide per kg of cooked food) observed lowered plasma potassium and calcium (32).
  • ProteinProtein: A study of dogs fed a protein-sufficient diet in combination with cassava (expected to release 10.8mg of hydrogen cyanide per kg of cooked food) observed elevated concentrations of urinary protein excretion and reduced urinary albumin and plasma free amino acids (32),
  • ThiocyanateThiocyanate: A study of dogs fed a protein-sufficient diet in combination with cassava (expected to release 10.8mg of hydrogen cyanide per kg of cooked food) observed elevated concentrations of plasma thiocyanate and 24-hour urinary thiocyanate excretion (32).
  • Thyroid hormonesThyroid hormones: Several lines of evidence (human, animal and in vivo) suggest that cassava has marked antithyroid effects, particularly in the presence of poor processing and a protein-deficient diet (23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 46; 58). In humans, the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine were significantly lower after nine consecutive days of consuming boiled cassava leaves (200g twice daily) (24).