The toxicity of canavanine may be enhanced under conditions of protein starvation, and canavanine toxicity, resulting from consumption of Hedysarum alpinum seeds with a concentration of 1.2% canavanine weight/weight, has been implicated in the death of a malnourished Christopher McCandless.
The toxicity of canavanine increases under conditions of protein deficiency, and consuming Hedysarum alpinum seeds with a high concentration of canavanine (1.2% by weight) is linked to the death of Christopher McCandless, who was malnourished.