Persimmon Consumption and Bezoar Risk

Mechanism and Risk Factors

Persimmon consumption can cause bezoars, particularly in patients with prior gastric surgery, reduced gastric motility, loss of pyloric function, or hypoacidity, as the American College of Nutrition recommends awareness of this risk 1, 2
High-risk populations include patients with prior gastric surgery, such as vagotomy, pyloroplasty, gastric bypass, or sleeve gastrectomy, according to the Advances in Nutrition guidelines 1
Individuals with reduced gastric motility or hypoacidity are also at high risk of developing bezoars from persimmon consumption, as reported by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 2, 3
Patients with loss of pyloric function are at increased risk of bezoar formation from persimmon intake, as noted by the World Journal of Emergency Surgery 2, 4
Those with poor mastication habits are also at higher risk, as the World Journal of Emergency Surgery suggests that thorough chewing can help prevent bezoar formation 2, 5

Patients who have undergone bariatric or gastric surgery should be counseled to avoid persimmon consumption entirely, as recommended by the Advances in Nutrition guidelines 1
The general population should ensure thorough chewing, at least 15 times per bite, to help prevent bezoar formation from persimmon consumption, although this guideline is from Praxis Medical Insights, a similar recommendation may be found from other sources 6