Surprisingly, BMAA was found to be present in about half of the food we analyzed, including
blue mussel, oyster, shrimp, plaice, herring and char
as shown in Fig. 1 b–g. The contents of BMAA in these species were determined to be 0.01–0.90 μg/g wet weight of the sample tissues.
What is BMAA toxin?
β-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is
an environmental toxin that is made by some kinds of cyanobacteria, blue-green bacteria that typically live in the ocean
. BMAA can accumulate in fish and shellfish that ultimately are consumed by humans. This toxic compound has been linked to the development of ALS.
Does salmon contain BMAA?
“We detected BMAA in blue mussel, oyster, shrimp, plaice, char and herring but
not in salmon
, cod, perch and crayfish,” says Liying Jiang, PhD student at the Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry (ACES), Stockholm University. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins.
Where is BMAA located?
BMAA has been found in aquatic organisms and in plants with cyanobacterial symbionts such as certain lichens, the floating fern Azolla, the leaf petioles of the tropical flowering plant Gunnera, cycads as well as in animals that eat the fleshy covering of cycad seeds, including flying foxes.
Does fish contain BMAA?
Recent studies have found BMAA in seafood
, suggesting that certain diets and locations may put people at particular risk.
What does BMAA do to your body?
BMAA has been shown to pass the blood-brain barrier where it is incorporated into brain proteins [3,12–14]
inducing misfolding and aggregation
[13]. Chronic dietary exposure to BMAA has been shown to trigger neurodegenerative changes in experimental models including non-human primates [15–17].
Can food cause ALS?
Diet and sex are two factors that have been reported to alter ALS risk, onset and progression in humans and in animal models
, providing potential modifiers of disease.
Does lobster contain BMAA?
BMAA has previously been identified in crustaceans such as lobster collected in Florida Bay
[5] and in brain, liver and muscle tissue from carp origin from the Lake Mascoma [32], and it was then reported as a link between ALS and chronic exposure to the neurotoxin via seafood intake.
Does Spirulina contain BMAA?
A: Our spirulina
does not contain BMAA
. In fact, a study in 1999 by Health Canada found that spirulina is the only blue green algae that doesn’t contain BMAA or other microcystins.
What causes BMAA?
The hypothesis, in its most recent formulation, states that BMAA is produced by
cycad-associated cyanobacteria
, accumulates in cycad seeds consumed by fruit bats or flying foxes that were part of the local population’s diet, or directly used to make flour, thus biomagnifying in the food chain.
How is BMAA toxic?
In past studies we found that toxic and excitatory effects of BMAA on cultured neurons were
dependent upon the presence of bicarbonate in the medium
, and suggested that formation of a carbamate adduct of the side-chain amino group might produce structures capable of activating glutamate receptors.
Does Blue Green Algae cause ALS?
Blue-green algae toxins
Microcystin has been linked to non-alcoholic liver disease and liver cancer. BMAA has been linked to neuro-degenerative diseases, including ALS, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The newest research establishes that
BMAA is a cause of early stages of ALS in vervet monkeys
.
Does BMAA cause ALS?
Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous throughout the world, so it is possible that all humans are exposed to low amounts of cyanobacterial BMAA, that protein-bound BMAA in human brains is a reservoir for chronic neurotoxicity, and that
cyanobacterial BMAA is a major cause of progressive neurodegenerative diseases including ALS
…
Can water cause ALS?
Results. We found that
consumption of drinking water containing ≥ 1 μg/l of inorganic selenium was associated with a relative risk for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
of 5.4 (95% confidence interval 1.1-26) after adjustment for confounding factors.
What is BMAA test?
The β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) ELISA is
an immunoassay for the quantitative and/or qualitative screening of BMAA in water samples
. The test is a direct competitive ELISA based on the recognition of BMAA by specific antibodies.
How are we exposed to BMAA?
Exposure is believed to occur through
inhalation of aerosolized BMAA, ingestion of water containing cyanobacterial blooms, and consumption of fish living in and around areas containing blooms
, which have been shown to be rich in BMAA [14, 15].
Is tuna a BMAA?
Humans can be exposed to both methylmercury and BMAA, said Dr. Davis.
Methylmercury is found concentrated in large marine predators, such as swordfish, tuna and sharks, as well as dolphins
. “When ingested with seafood, this toxin causes neurons to die and can lead to a form of dementia in humans,” he said.
Can poison cause ALS?
MONDAY, May 9, 2016 (HealthDay News) —
Exposure to pesticides and other chemicals may increase the risk for ALS
(amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a fatal neurological disease, researchers say.
How does neurotoxin work?
Neurotoxins work by
inhibiting the contraction of your muscle in and around those “problem areas.”
Neurotoxins are great for not only smoothing and diminishing lines but also for preventing the increased intensity of those lines as we age.
Is BMAA a Cyanotoxin?
Cyanotoxins, including L-BMAA
, have been implicated in triggering neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS/PDC and Alzheimer’s disease.
What is L serine used for?
D-serine is used for schizophrenia, Parkinson disease, and memory and thinking skills (cognitive function), and many other conditions. L-serine is used
to improve sleeping, Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS), and many other conditions
.
How can you avoid getting ALS?
Get Regular Exercise
When combined with a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, exercise can reduce the risk of Lou Gehrig’s disease. Gentle exercises such as swimming, gardening, and yoga can help seniors stay in shape and prevent ALS.
How do you slow down ALS?
Standard low impact aerobic exercises like walking and swimming
can also help slow the progression of symptoms. Breathing assistance: As the muscles used for breathing become weaker, a person may need devices to help them breathe while they sleep. In severe cases, they may need to use a ventilator.
What vitamins help ALS?
A Phase 2/3 clinical study (NCT00444613) showed that taking
vitamin B12
immediately after symptom onset can slow ALS progression and improve prognosis. Other vitamin supplements include vitamin A, vitamins B1 and B2, and vitamin C.
Is ALS Motor Neurone disease?
ALS belongs to a wider group of disorders known as motor neuron diseases
, which are caused by gradual deterioration (degeneration) and death of motor neurons. Motor neurons are nerve cells that extend from the brain to the spinal cord and to muscles throughout the body.
What is cyanobacteria bloom?
Cyanobacteria blooms
form when cyanobacteria, which are normally found in the water, start to multiply very quickly
. Blooms can form in warm, slow-moving waters that are rich in nutrients from sources such as fertilizer runoff or septic tank overflows. Cyanobacteria blooms need nutrients to survive.
What is Bmma in lobster?
Cyanobacteria produce the neurotoxic amino acid
β-N-methylamino-l-alanine
(BMAA), which in contaminated marine waters has been found to accumulate in shellfish. Exposure to BMAA has been associated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease.
