A food additive named quillaia, often used in root beer and cream soda,
may be connected to drops in platelet counts. Like quinine (known for producing thrombocytopenia) quillaia is extracted from the bark of a South American tree.
In trying to find the trigger for Ellen's recent surge in migraines, I stumbled on an ingredient in her A&W root beer, which she had just begun drinking. The culprit seems to be quillaia, a saponin which is used to put the foam in root beer and the "cream" in cream soda.... among other uses.
In the process of my research, I found a connection between
quillaia and thrombocytopenia. The evidence is slim - I only found one (fairly dated) case study, which I have linked below - but the connection does make sense. It makes sense in that quillaia is also used as an "adjuvant" to help animals' immune systems to respond to various veterinary vaccines including rabies (apparently, it is not used in human medicine, except in research).
Quillaia is used in certain beverages as well as some baked goods and dairy products. Perhaps it could account for some fluctuations in platelet counts.
www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/Plantox/Detail.CFM?ID=4028
FDA Poisonous Plant Database
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AUTHOR(S): Bradley, R.; Harchelroad, F.
TITLE: Root beer as a cause for thrombocytopenia.
YEAR: 1994 CITATION: Vet Hum Toxicol, 36(4), 357 [English]
FDA #: F12906
ABSTRACT:
Background: Drugs are a known cause of thrombocytopenia, with quinine numbering amongst the causative agents. We present a case whereby quillaia, a root beer foaming agent, can also be implicated.
Case Report: A 66-year-old white male with past medical history of hypertension, atherosclerotic coronary vascular disease, asthma, nasal polyps and a seizure disorder was admitted with petechiae, nose bleeds, and a platelet count of 1000/cL. He was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) and steroids, and his platelets increased back to normal levels. The precipitating factor was thought to be quinine, as he reported having tried to lose weight through drinking less sugary soft drinks, and had for the first time in his life, drank quinine containing tonic water approximately 7 days prior to admission. Anti-platelet antibodies subsequently proved positive. Three weeks later, her[sic][he] returned with similar symptoms and a markedly low platelet count. He had drank QV Root BeerTM containing quillaia prior to the onset of symptoms but no tonic water. Further history found that he had been drinking the quillaia containing root beer prior to the initial episode. Once again, IVIG and steroids were administered, and he recovered. Discussion: Quillaia is a South American tree bark extract as is quinine. Quillaic acid forms a saponin when combined with sugar, and is thus useful as a foaming agent. Quillaia saponins have also been shown to boost humoral immune responses in mice when given with rabies vaccine. We postulate that quillaia might be a potential cause of thrombocytopenia, as there was no other apparent etiology in the patient, and because of quillaia's reported toxicities and immune system interactions.
Conclusion: Quillaia, used as a foaming agent in QV Root Beer,TM may be implicated in this case of thrombocytopenia.
GRIN #: 30776 Exit Disclaimer
COMMON NAME: quillaia
STANDARD COMMON NAME: quillaja
FAMILY: Rosaceae
LATIN NAME:
STANDARD PLANT NAME: Quillaja saponaria Molina
