Can eating shrimp incorrectly be fatal?

Health experts advise against eating shrimp and taking Vitamin C supplements, as these can seriously affect health and may even be fatal.

According to scientists, the processes of food absorption and metabolism involve very complex interactions, so it is necessary to choose appropriate foods so that one substance does not hinder the absorption and metabolism of another, and to combine foods rationally so that the body does not exceed its self-regulating capacity.

A woman in Taiwan (China) died suddenly with symptoms of bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears, and eyes after eating shrimp with the shells on and taking vitamin C at the same time. The reason given was that shrimp shells contain arsenic, and consuming them together with vitamin C caused severe poisoning.

According to researchers at the University of Chicago (USA), the soft shells of shrimp contain high levels of potassium 5 combined with arsenic oxide (As2O5). These fresh foods are not toxic to the human body, but if Vitamin C is consumed immediately afterward, a chemical reaction will occur: arsenic oxide will convert into ADB arsenic anhydride (As2O3, a substance commonly used to gild the edges of dishes). This toxic arsenic will paralyze the small blood vessels of the heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, and epithelium, causing bleeding in the ears, eyes, nose, and mouth.

However, this information has caused concern among many Vietnamese people, because in the summer, many families enjoy hot rice served with salty stir-fried shrimp/prawns with lime juice (and prawns have even more shells than shrimp).

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Huu Duc (Faculty of Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy) explained: Shrimp shells cannot contain enough arsenic to be toxic to the shrimp itself, except in the very rare case where the shrimp live in polluted water containing excessive amounts of arsenic (such as areas where industrial chemicals are produced). However, one also cannot eat so much shrimp shell that they "die suddenly with symptoms of bleeding from the nose, mouth, ears, and eyes" as the sensational information describes.

Furthermore, if vitamin C, as some online sources claim, reacts chemically with shrimp shells because it's an acid, then why don't other acidic substances in food like lemons, starfruit, vinegar, etc., react with shrimp shells and cause harm?

Although the case of someone dying after eating shrimp shells and taking Vitamin C is rare, scientists advise that while shrimp is a delicious and nutritious food enjoyed by many, it is not advisable to take Vitamin C before or after eating it, as it can be fatal.

Even if eating shrimp with lemon juice is delicious, you should eat it in moderation to avoid unfortunate consequences that could affect your health.

According to VOV.online