G6PD deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of hemolysis, hyperbilirubinemia, and kernicterus.209 Mothers who breastfeed infants with known or suspected G6PD deficiency should not ingest fava beans or medications such as nitrofurantoin, primaquine phosphate, or phenazopyridine hydrochloride, which are known to
induce hemolysis in deficient individuals.210, 211
If one eats sufficient calories to maintain a healthy weight, even with avoiding
hemolysis -
inducing foods, one will get enough protein to thrive on a plant based diet.