What is the connection between BMAA and L-serine?

What is the connection between BMAA and L-serine?

BMAA has been found in the brains of ALS and other neurodegenerative patients. Having a similar structure to amino acids, BMAA alone can act as L-serine, which then can be incorporated into human proteins causing misfolding.

What is L-serine good 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.

What is BMAA toxin?

The neurotoxin β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) is a natural non-proteinogenic diamino acid produced by several species of both prokaryotic (cyanobacteria) and eukaryotic (diatoms and dinoflagellates) microorganisms.

Does L-serine help you sleep?

These results demonstrate that L-serine can also improve sleep among individuals suffering from stress. Our findings suggest that L-serine improves sleep initiation and nighttime awakenings, resulting in improved feelings of having slept well when waking in the morning.

Can l-serine raise BP?

L-Serine lowers while glycine increases blood pressure in chronic L-NAME-treated and spontaneously hypertensive rats. J Hypertens. 2008 Dec;26(12):2339-48. doi: 10.1097/hjh.

Does fish oil contain BMAA?

Answer: Golden algae used to make algae-based omega-3 supplements do not appear to contain BMAA. It may be worth mentioning that because of the potential risks from fish oil (toxins, PBC’s, mercury) researchers have been exploring the efficacy and safety of algae-based DHA/EPA oils.

Does serine cause weight gain?

The results showed that the administration of 0.5% (w/v) L-serine significantly reduced food intake and body weight gain during the experiment.

Is serine safe for skin?

The Cosmetics Database finds Serine to be a low hazard ingredient, and notes no concerns except for a data gap in information. No other studies were found that reported any negative side effects or warnings regarding this ingredient. Serine is FDA approved.

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].

How does BMAA cause ALS?

BMAA caused ALS/PDC due to consumption of animals that contained large quantities of cycad seeds where cyanobacteria-produced BMAA had bioaccumulated; 2. All of these diseases are sufficiently similar to enable BMAA to cause them; 3. Environmental exposures to BMAA are sufficient to cause the diseases; and 4.

What foods contain serine?

Serine is non-essential amino acid supplied from food or synthesized by the body from a number of metabolites, including glycine. Serine is found in soybeans, nuts (especially peanuts, almonds, and walnuts), eggs, chickpeas, lentils, meat, and fish (especially shellfish).

What foods are high in serine?

Can L-serine prevent misincorporation of BMAA?

Our cells can mistake BMAA for L-serine and misincorporate it into proteins, which can lead to cell death and may increase biological markers of Alzheimer’s. Laboratory studies indicate that L-serine may prevent misincorporation of BMAA and cell death.

Does L serine affect the brain?

L-Serine. It can be produced in the body, including the brain, but an external supply from the diet is essential in maintaining necessary levels. Although preclinical studies suggest L-serine may inhibit inflammation in the brain, levels of L-serine in humans do not appear to be associated with dementia or cognitive decline.

Is there a link between BMAA and ALS?

BMAA can accumulate in fish and shellfish that ultimately are consumed by humans. This toxic compound has been linked to the development of ALS. The diet of the Chamorro people of Guam contains high amounts of BMAA, and the rate of ALS in this Pacific island population is about 100 times higher than elsewhere in the world.

How does BMAA interact with SOD1?

BMAA has been theorized to specifically affect the protein copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), which is one of the main culprits of familial ALS cases. To further explore this association, researchers from the Penn State College of Medicine used computer modeling to see how BMAA incorporation into SOD1 would affect the protein’s function.