Dietary BMAA Exposure in an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Cluster from Southern France

Abstract

BackgroundDietary exposure to the cyanotoxin BMAA is suspected to be the cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Western Pacific Islands. In Europe and North America, this toxin has been identified in the marine environment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis clusters but, to date, only few dietary exposures have been described.ObjectivesWe aimed at identifying cluster(s) of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the Hérault district, a coastal district from Southern France, and to search, in the identified area(s), for the existence of a potential dietary source of BMAA.MethodsA spatio-temporal cluster analysis was performed in the district, considering all incident amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases identified from 1994 to 2009 by our expert center. We investigated the cluster area with serial collections of oysters and mussels that were subsequently analyzed blind for BMAA concentrations.ResultsWe found one significant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cluster (p = 0.0024), surrounding the Thau lagoon, the most important area of shellfish production and consumption along the French Mediterranean coast. BMAA was identified in mussels (1.8 µg/g to 6.0 µg/g) and oysters (0.6 µg/g to 1.6 µg/g). The highest concentrations of BMAA were measured during summer when the highest picocyanobacteria abundances were recorded. ConclusionsWhile it is not possible to ascertain a direct link between shellfish consumption and the existence of this ALS cluster, these results add new data to the potential association of BMAA with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, one of the most severe neurodegenerative disorder.

β-N-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) and isomers: Distribution in different food web compartments of Thau lagoon, French Mediterranean Sea

“…In mussels and oysters from Thau lagoon, France, BMAA, DAB and AEG have independently been detected by two groups at similar levels (Masseret et al, 2013;Reveillon et al, 2014). However, the distribution of BMAA in different organs of filter-feeding bivalves has not been studied so far.…”

“…As cyanobacteria had been considered to be the most likely source of marine-derived BMAA, and had been suggested as a source of BMAA in Thau lagoon in a previous study (Masseret et al, 2013), we screened four strains of Synechococcus sp., previously isolated from Thau lagoon. Furthermore, emblematic protists isolated from this lagoon and available to this study included Ostreococcus tauri, and two strains of Alexandrium catenella.…”

The natural non-protein amino acid N-β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is incorporated into protein during synthesis

“…N-β-methylamino-l-alanine (BMAA) is a natural non-protein amino acid that accumulates through food webs and eventually appears as a contaminant in some human diets (Cox et al 2003;Murch et al 2004a;Banack et al 2006;Banack and Murch 2009;Jonasson et al 2010;Brandt et al 2010;Masseret et al 2013;Fig. 1).…”

Glyphosate pathways to modern diseases VI: Prions, amyloidoses and autoimmune neurological diseases

“…A study in France investigated an ALS cluster near a lagoon that supplied oysters and mussels to the local population. The authors demonstrated that the shellfish were contaminated with BMAA, but also remarked that there was intensive chemical-based agriculture in the region [77]. Interestingly, cyanobacteria have been found to be remarkably resistant to glyphosate [78,79], and this could contribute to the recent record-setting algal blooms in the Great Lakes region, where glyphosate is extensively used on genetically modified (GM) RoundupReady crops [80].…”