Edward Rubenstein

Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid in the food chain

Rubenstein, E, McLaughlin T, Winant RC, Sanchez A, Eckart M, Krasinska KM, Chien A.. Phytochemistry. 2009: 70 32-36

Azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (Aze) is a non-protein amino acid present in sugar beets and in table beets (Beta vulgaris). It is readily misincorporated into proteins in place of proline 2 in many species, including man, and causes numerous toxic effects as well as congenital malformations. Its role in the pathogenesis of disease in humans has remained unexplored. Sugar beet agriculture, especially in the Northern Hemisphere, has become widespread during the past 150 years, and now accounts for nearly 30 per cent of the worlds supply of sucrose. Sugar beet byproducts are used as a dietary supplement for livestock. Therefore the present study was undertaken as an initial survey to identify Aze- containing links in the food chain. Herein we report the presence of Aze in three sugar beet byproducts that are fed to farm animals: sugar beet molasses, shredded sugar beet pulp, and pelleted sugar beet pulp.