cuban neuropathy cuban neuropathy an epidemic of optic and peripheral neuropathy occurred in cuba during 1991–1994. according to a preliminary summary from the ministry of public health of cuba (minsap), there were 50,862 cases out of a population of 10.8 million. the etiology is likely nutritional deficiencies, particularly thiamine, compounded by toxic effects of alcohol and tobacco use. this marked a period of acute food shortage and changes in the cuban basic diet where studies were done resulting in inconclusive hypothesis, example: the wide introduction of products based on unfermented soy beans affecting vitamin absorption. sources ordauiez-garcia, pedro o.; nieto, f. javier; espinosa-brito, a. d.; caballero, b. (may 1996). "cuban epidemic neuropathy, 1991 to 1994: history repeats itself a century after the "amblyopia of the blockade"". american journal of public health. 86: 738–743. pmid 8629731. "morbidity and mortality weekly report: international notes epidemic neuropathy – cuba, 1991–1994". centers for disease control and prevention. retrieved 25 march 2017. macias-matos c, rodriguez-ojea a, chi n, jimenez s, zulueta d, bates cj. biochemical evidence of thiamine depletion during the cuban neuropathy epidemic, 1992–1993. am j clin nutr. 1996 sep;64(3):347-53. this article is issued from wikipedia. the text is licensed under creative commons - attribution - sharealike. additional terms may apply for the media files.