Sulforaphane, Acrolein, and Parkinson's

[Bolt_Upright]

I spend a fair amount of time re-researching things I have researched previously. With my bad memory, frequently I think I am finding something new when I am not.

I just came across (again) an article on Acrolein and Parkinson's and remembered that a Broccoli Sprout beverage can clear Acrolein and started working on writing an article on the topic when I discovered I already wrote a detailed article on this topic.

The article provide another reason to get sulforaphane into your system and is well worth reading (IMHO): rbd-pd-protocols.blogspot.c...

Broccoli Sprout Beverage Can Clear Acrolein

A trial showed that a Broccoli Sprout Beverage can clear Acrolein (at least exogenous acrolein). Here is the study: Rapid and Sustainable Detoxication of Airborne Pollutants by Broccoli Sprout Beverage: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial in China 2014 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I encourage people to read the paper if you want details. The main points I see is:

1. They did a 12 week trial of people drinking this Broccoli Sprout beverage every day.

2. The beverage had both Broccoli Sprouts AND Daikon.

3. The beverage cleared both Benzine and Acrolein. The participants had been exposed to these as airborne pollutants.

4. The researchers found that among the people consuming the broccoli sprout beverage, the rate of excretion of benzene increased 61 percent throughout the 12-week period. As for the acrolein, the excretion rate went up 23 percent during the trial.

Why should we care that a a Broccoli Sprout Beverage can clear Acrolein? We should care because, according to this study, Acrolein is a “key factor” in the development of PD: 'Key factor' in development of Parkinson's disease identified 2018 purdue.edu/newsroom/release...

To be fair, it seems the article on Acrolein being a “key factor” in the development of PD seems to be talking about Endogenous (created within the body) Acrolein. The study on the Broccoli Sprout beverage is talking about exogenous (from outside the body) Acrolein.

Here is the key point from the article (they are talking about Endogenous Acrolein): “Researchers at Purdue University have identified a compound that accumulates in Parkinson's disease-affected brain tissue. The compound, acrolein, is a toxic, foul-smelling byproduct of burning fat (the brain uses fat for fuel) and is normally eliminated from the body. But the research team has found that the substance can promote the build-up of a protein called alpha-synuclein. When this protein accumulates in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra, it destroys the cell membranes and key machineries of neurons, killing these brain cells.”

So Acrolein builds up and promotes the build-up of Alpha-Synuclein. And Acrolein can be created within cells and you can also be exposed to it through pollution.

But wait, there is more: Endogenous Acrolein can also be created in your gut: Gut Microbial Glycerol Metabolism is also an Endogenous Acrolein Source, 2018 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

• “The major conclusion is that gut microbes can metabolize glycerol to reuterin and that this transformation occurs in vivo. Given the known toxicity of acrolein, the observation that acrolein is formed in the gut necessitates further investigations on functional relevance for gut microbiota and the host.”

• “Acrolein induces apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and oxidative stresses. Acrolein can decrease mitochondrial membrane potential and active apoptotic enzymes, such as caspase 9 and caspase 7. Acrolein can trigger immune and inflammatory responses, such as the increased expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), or IL-8, contributing to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Moreover, acrolein decreased barrier function and increased permeability, potentially due to the downregulation of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1.”

So far this seems to show that Acrolein is bad, and that a Broccoli Sprout beverage can help clear Acrolein. Here is another article showing Sulforaphane can protect against the damage from Acrolein: Sulforaphane protects against acrolein-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory responses: modulation of Nrf-2 and COX-2 expression 2018: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

• This article has a lot of big words in it. As close as I can tell, the message is:

• We pre-treated cells with Sulforaphane.

• We exposed the cells to Acrolein.

• The Sulforaphane protected the cells from the Acrolein.

• “The present study provides clear evidence that pre-treatment with sulforaphane completely restored the antioxidant status and prevented inflammatory responses mediated by acrolein. Thus the protection offered by sulforaphane against acrolein-induced damage in PBMC is attributed to its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory potential”.

• Some people might say this test is not valid as they pre-treated the cells with Sulforaphane, but in this case I think it IS valid. Acrolein seems to be something you can be exposed to every day, either exogenously or endogenously, so MAYBE we need to be pre-treating our cells EVERY day to protect against Acrolein.

Dave’s conclusions:

• Acrolein can be created endogenously within our cells and promote the build-up of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra.

• Some doctors believe that Acrolein is a “key factor” in the development of PD.

• Acrolein can also be created in the gut and “trigger immune and inflammatory responses, such as the increased expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), or IL-8, contributing to endoplasmic reticulum stress. Moreover, acrolein decreased barrier function and increased permeability, potentially due to the downregulation of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1.

• If all this is happening in my gut, having my 40 grams of Broccoli Sprouts every morning seems like a good idea.

• The “40 grams” number come from another report I read that 40 grams was the minimum effective dose of Broccoli Sprouts.

• We can also be exposed to Acrolein through pollution.

• Broccoli Sprouts - Sulforaphane can clear Acrolein from the body and protect cells from the damage Acrolein can do.

• It makes sense to me, David Farris, to keep eating at least 40 grams of Broccoli Sprouts every morning to clear Acrolein from my body and to protect cells from from the damage Acrolein can do.

Additional Reading:

• Acrolein (Sources, metabolism, and biomolecular interactions relevant to human health and disease) 2008: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

• Acrolein acts as a neurotoxin in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of rat: involvement of α-synuclein aggregation and programmed cell death 2017: nature.com/articles/srep45741

• Molecule from Fat Burning Linked to Protein Clumps That Typify Parkinson’s in Study 2018: parkinsonsnewstoday.com/new...

• Acrolein-mediated neuronal cell death and alpha-synuclein aggregation: Implications for Parkinson's disease 2018: sciencedirect.com/science/a...

[reedboat2]

Great post, Dave! Lotta links to follow up with. Thanks- JG

[faridaro]

Good information, thanks for sharing!

[SilentEchoes]

"The participants had been exposed to these as airborne pollutants."

In my real world experience, benzine (and benzene) is the chemical of concern and one of the many compounds that contributed to my poisoning. differencebetween.com/diffe...

Acrolein (VOC) seems like a red herring in this instance because it can also be produced endogenously. What happens when we substitute benzine (mixture of hydrocarbons - any flammable petroleum distillate used as a solvent or fuel ie Naptha) for Acrolein?

People get a little upset when they understand that similar compounds have similar toxicity and mode of action.

The foul body odor people with neurodegenerative conditions develop is from oxidation of fats through glycerol metabolism when lipids, triglycerides and phospholipids become rancid. Glycerol is a major link between sugar and fatty acid metabolism.

To get the most benefit from sulforaphane, it's imperative to eliminate sugar from your diet. Glycolysis refers to a metabolic pathway by which organisms extract energy in the form of ATP during the conversion of glucose into pyruvate and lactate. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi...

Sauna is another way to detox halogenated hydrocarbons from the body. Like most ppl with PD, I have pretty debilitating autonomic dysfunction and am intolerant to heat (and cold). Sulforaphane looks like a good alternative.

Thanks for the excellent post.

BTW, I also have groundhogs day syndrome 🙂

SE

[Skidad]

Is there a commercially available broccoli sprout beverage?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Skidad]

Not that I am aware of. I eat broccoli sprouts: rbd-pd-protocols.blogspot.c...

[Rufous2]

Hmn, wonder if acrolein could be related to coffee's protective effects in PD?pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/ac...

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Rufous2]

Interesting! Sharing the title of your link: Trapping Acrolein by Theophylline/Caffeine and Their Metabolites from Green Tea and Coffee in Mice and Humans

[BonsaiKid]

Thanks for posting this most interesting infomation. I had not heard about acrolein before. I have grown and eaten broccoli sprouts myself but it's my husband who has early-stage PD. I am looking for things to help prevent it progressing.

[djresd]

You can get Sulforaphane directly by purchasing BROQ supplement made in France. (Amazon) Other products not as potent. See research presented by Rhonda Patrick PHd. Benefits are very significant for brain health.

[Annieartist]

amazing information- thanks Bolt

[Annieartist]

Raab or Calabrese?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Annieartist]

I use Waltham 29 cultivar for now. They are not high in sulforaphane but hey, just eat more. Broccoli Seeds for Sprouting & Microgreens amazon.com/gp/product/B07R1...

[Rufous2 in reply to Bolt_Upright]

How's the germination rate? I gave up on broccoli sprouts, grew tired of throwing away so many ungerminated seeds. I've been growing radish sprouts instead, hoping sulforaphene has many of the benefits of sulforaphane.

[pacwest]

Long read but interesting paper. This would also be relative in your curcumin thread ..

digitalscholarship.tsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&content=dissertations

[TealWater]

Another possible source is Brocelite. I haven't tried it out on hubbie yet. But here is some info on it...chriskresser.com/the-powerf... . At the bottom of the show notes is a link for Brocelite.

[Ghmac]

So what exactly is the broccoli drink?

[Bolt_Upright in reply to Ghmac]

Per the study, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... , it seems they made their own beverage. I don't expect to duplicate it. I just eat sprouts.

This is their recipe:

"The study was conducted using re-hydrated, previously lyophilized broccoli sprout powders rich in either GR or SF that were produced by the Cullman Chemoprotection Center at Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, for clinical study use as an Investigational New Drug. Broccoli sprouts were grown from specially selected BroccoSprouts™ seeds (cv. DM1999B) with technology licensed from Johns Hopkins University. Briefly, seeds were surface-disinfected, and grown in a commercial sprouting facility under controlled light and moisture conditions. After 3 days of sprout growth, an aqueous extract was prepared in a steam jacketed kettle at a GMP food processing facility (Oregon Freeze Dry, Albany, OR). Sprouts were plunged into boiling deionized water and allowed to boil for 30 minutes. The resulting aqueous extract contained about 5 mM GR, the biogenic precursor of SF.

A GR-rich powder was prepared by filtering and lyophilizing this aqueous extract at Oregon Freeze Dry. Total GR titer was determined in the resulting powder by HPLC (23) to be 329 μmol/g powder when assayed just prior to use in the clinical study. To prepare our SF-rich powder, the aqueous extract was filtered, cooled to 37°C, and treated with myrosinase, an enzyme released from a small amount of daikon (Raphanus sativus) sprouts, for 4 hours in order to hydrolyze the glucosinolates to isothiocyanates. Total isothiocyanate and SF levels were then quantified by cyclocondensation analysis (24) and by direct HPLC (25), respectively. This hydrolyzed aqueous extract was also lyophilized at Oregon Freeze Dry. SF content at time of use was 202 μmol/g powder and represented 91% of the total isothiocyanate content in the powder.

The bulk powders were tested for microbial contaminants prior to release by Oregon Freeze Dry and again upon receipt in Baltimore (IEH-JL Analytical Services, Modesto, CA and Eurofins Strasburger & Siegel, Hanover, MD), heavy metals (Elemental Analysis, Inc., Lexington, KY) and benzene (TestAmerica, Pittsburgh, PA). Following air shipment to China, both powder preparations were stored in sealed bags in a locked, dedicated −20°C freezer until reconstitution of the study beverages.

To prepare 150 daily doses, allotments of each powder (360 g GR-rich and 24.8 g SF-rich powders) were dissolved in sterile water. An equal volume of pineapple juice (Dole, Manila, Philippines) was added along with lime juice (Safeway, USA) in a final ratio of 47:47:6 water:pineapple juice:lime juice (by volume) with vigorous mixing prior to transfer of 100-mL individual doses into sterile 330-mL commercial bottled water bottles for daily distribution to study participants. The individual daily dose was 600 μmol of GR and 40 μmol of SF. The placebo beverage contained the same liquid components, to which 1% molasses v/v was added to provide color masking."