Hello,

Interesting question.  It is my understanding that common sago palm flour is made from the pith or core of the tree trunk.  Consequently, flour made from the sago palm nuts or seeds likely has a much different composition than common sago flour. Also, I think that most, if not all, of the cycad palms contain neurotoxins that must be removed by thorough and multiple rinsing of the raw materials used to make the flour. One of the major toxins is called cycasin. I have read that the seeds have higher levels of cycasin than the pith of the tree.  Perhaps someone from an area where sago is commonly utilized knows more about this.  

Below are a few PubMed links to articles that address cycad and cycasin toxicity issues.  

Aloha,
Alan Titchenal

Toxic phytochemicals and their potential risks for human cancer.


Bode AM, Dong Z.

Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2015 Jan;8(1):1-8. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-14-0160. Epub 2014 Oct 27. Review.

PMID:
 
25348854
 
Free PMC Article

Animal models of brain maldevelopment induced by cycad plant genotoxins.

Kisby GE, Moore H, Spencer PS.

Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2013 Dec;99(4):247-55. doi: 10.1002/bdrc.21052. Review. Erratum in: Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today. 2014 Mar;102(1):113.



Rivadeneyra-Domínguez E, Rodríguez-Landa JF.

Neurologia. 2014 Nov-Dec;29(9):517-22. doi: 10.1016/j.nrl.2013.03.005. Epub 2013 May 30. Review. English, Spanish.

PMID:
 
23725821
 
Free Article
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C. Alan Titchenal, PhD, CNS, Associate Professor 
Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences  
University of Hawaii at Manoa 
1955 East-West Rd., Room 216 
Honolulu, Hawaii 96822 
Phone: (808)956-7411  
Fax: (808)956-4024 

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"A state of doubt is unpleasant, but a state of certainty is ridiculous."
                                                           -- Voltaire 

"Learning without thinking is useless. Thinking without learning is dangerous."
                                                           -- Confucius

On Fri, Mar 25, 2016 at 4:13 AM, Haytowitz, David <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

Hello:

   Data on sago flour can be found in “The Pacific Island Food Composition Tables” published in 2004.  It is available on the INFOODS web site at:

 

http://www.fao.org/docrep/007/y5432e/y5432e00.htm

 

 

David

 

David B. Haytowitz

Nutritionist

USDA, Agricultural Research Service

Nutrient Data Laboratory

Room 207A, Building 005, BARC-West

10300 Baltimore Avenue

Beltsville, MD 20705

301.504.0714 (voice)

301.504.0632 (fax)

[log in to unmask]

 

 

 

From: Food Composition Discussion Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Harriet V Kuhnlein
Sent: Thursday, March 24, 2016 8:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Comoran sago palm flour

 

Perhaps someone could answer Tanja’s question below.  Tanja is the daughter of Dr. Lois Englberger and is now working in the Cormoros Islands

Thank you in advance,

Harriet Kuhnlein

 

Harriet V. Kuhnlein, PhD, LLD (hon.), FIUNS, FASN

Professor Emerita of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal

Adjunct Professor, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai’i, Manoa

Founding Director, Centre for Indigenous Peoples’ Nutrition and Environment (CINE)

Home address: 1204 6th St., Anacortes WA 98221 USA

Email: [log in to unmask]

Landline: 360-588-4635

Cell: 360-941-6806

Web: http://www.mcgill.ca/cine/about

http://www.mcgill.ca/nutrition/staff/professors/kuhnlein

www.indigenousnutrition.org

 

 

 

From: Tanja Englberger [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2016 10:20 PM
To: Harriet V Kuhnlein
Subject: Comoran sago palm flo

Dear Harriet, 

I have been trying to find the nutritional content of sago flour.  A friend of mine makes the flour out of the sago palm nuts and sells it.  It looks and tastes nutritious but I can't find the nutritional content.  The scientific name is cycas revoluta (Comoran sago palm). 

Do you know if this information exists? 

Thank you so much, 

Tanja 

 

--

https://docs.google.com/uc?id=0B1e_gzNnobLjdUExbkdNZVVWZW8&export=download

Tanja Englberger, MPH

Director

LOIS: Local Opportunities to Improve Survival

[log in to unmask]

+269 3587382

http://loisngo.org/

Boite Postale 1664, Moroni, Comoros

 

 

 


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