MadSci Network: Biochemistry
Query:

Subject: Does microwaving food change its organic molecules' isomeric form?

Date: Thu Oct 21 12:09:07 2004
Posted by No name entered.
Grade level: undergrad School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: No country entered.
Area of science: Biochemistry
ID: 1098378547.Bc
Message:

I was wondering because I came across the following website: 
http://www.mercola.com/article/microwave/hazards.htm
It contained the following quote. 
"Dr. Lita Lee of Hawaii reported in the December 9, 1989 Lancet: 

"Microwaving baby formulas converted certain trans-amino acids into their 
synthetic cis-isomers. Synthetic isomers, whether cis-amino acids or trans-
fatty acids, are not biologically active. 

Further, one of the amino acids, L-proline, was converted to its d-isomer, 
which is known to be neurotoxic (poisonous to the nervous system) and 
nephrotoxic (poisonous to the kidneys). It's bad enough that many babies are 
not nursed, but now they are given fake milk (baby formula) made even more 
toxic via microwaving." 
end of quote
So I was wondering if eating microwaved food could increase the chances of 
getting cancer (if the changed isomeric form of the amino acid is a 
carcinogen) or pose other health risks (if the changed isomeric form of the 
amino acid L-proline is toxic, as written in the quote above).  But my main 
question is still whether microwaves change the cis-trans configuration, or 
the isomeric form, of organic molecules such as amino acids.



Re: Does microwaving food change its organic molecules' isomeric form?

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