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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4125483/


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 https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q2/key-factor-in-development-of-parkinsons-disease-identified.html

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 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5770549/:
• “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: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4947616/

• 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: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2423340/
• Acrolein acts as a neurotoxin in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system of rat: involvement of α-synuclein aggregation and programmed cell death 2017: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45741
• Molecule from Fat Burning Linked to Protein Clumps That Typify Parkinson’s in Study 2018: https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/news/acrolein-molecule-created-by-burning-fat-linked-to-hallmark-parkinsons-protein-clumps-study/
• Acrolein-mediated neuronal cell death and alpha-synuclein aggregation: Implications for Parkinson's disease 2018: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1044743116302780?via%3Dihub