Popcorn ingredient found to be linked with Alzheimer's

[Hum]

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8 (UPI) -- Diacetyl, a flavoring used to produce the buttery flavor and aroma of microwave popcorn and other food, may be linked to Alzheimer's, U.S. researchers say.

Robert Vince, director of the Center for Drug Design at the University of Minnesota, and colleagues Swati More and Ashish Vartak said diacetyl has been the focus of research recently because it is linked to respiratory and other problems in workers at microwave popcorn and food-flavoring factories.

In addition to microwave popcorn, diacetyl is used in margarines, snack foods, candy, baked goods, pet foods and other products such as beer or some chardonnay wine, the researchers said.

Vince's team said it realized that diacetyl has an architecture similar to a substance that makes beta-amyloid proteins clump together in the brain -- this clumping is the hallmark of Alzheimer's disease.

The study, published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, found diacetyl increased the level of beta-amyloid clumping. In addition, the study found at real-world occupational exposure levels, diacetyl also enhanced beta-amyloid's toxic effects on nerve cells growing in the laboratory.

Other laboratory experiments also showed diacetyl easily penetrated the "blood-brain barrier," which keeps many harmful substances from entering the brain, Vince said.

"In light of the chronic exposure of industry workers to diacetyl, this study raises the troubling possibility of long-term neurological toxicity mediated by diacetyl," the researchers said in a statement.

source

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Good thing working at a movie theater for my entire teenage career has forever made me hate popcorn.

[ILikeTobacco]

Yea, gonna keep eating popcorn anyway, because it's popcorn.

[Vice]

[KingCracker]

So maybe linked means it its found to be linked to Alzheimer's?

[chrisj1968]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aspartame

donald Rumsfeld who headed G.D. Searle & Company , got it approved for being used as a sweetener. Truth is they fed the E.coli bacteria and what it defecated, was the sweetener. it is a neurotoxin found in crystal light, chewing gum and a slew of diet soft drinks.

it is linked to cancers. my wife has been able to identify what foods has it and eliminate them off our grocery list

[+chorpeac MVC]

Could just be a ploy to make American's stop eating the things that are making us fat...

In addition to microwave popcorn, diacetyl is used in margarines, snack foods, candy, baked goods, pet foods and other products such as beer or some chardonnay wine, the researchers said.

[astrokat]

Could just be a ploy to make American's stop eating the things that are making us fat...

Works for me ...

[Crisp]

and starlight gives you cancer.

[Charisma Veteran]

I thought it was well known that some of the crap in microwave popcorn was carcinogenic/dangerous...

Popcorn itself is quite healthy for you, even with a bit of melted real butter it's still not really that unhealthy. I :heart: my air popper. Forget that fake microwaved nonsense.

[Rigby]

Since when is popcorn fattening? It is not the type of food, it is the amount people eat and a sedentary lifestyle.

[Hum]

I thought it was well known that some of the crap in microwave popcorn was carcinogenic/dangerous...

Same with hamburgers.

[Bulldozer]

I eat popcorn a lot :s

[Raa]

I think I might give up the popcorn now :/

... Wait, maybe I already did? I can't remember! :s

[Glassed Silver]

I rarely ever eat popcorn.

I forget to buy it in grocery stores and in the movie theaters I can't justify the ridiculous prices for food and drinks :laugh:

I guess with the little popcorn I ever eat, albeit I like it, I really should worry about other things that might affect my health.

Glassed Silver:win

[grayscale]

Now, how am I gonna enjoy Neowin's Windows 8 threads now? :(

[tiagosilva29]

Oil + corn + salt + butter.

[Hum]

The nice thing about Alzheimer's is, you just don't care that you have it. :wacko:

[DocM]

I just make plain popcorn and toss it with my own hot seasoning (dried & fine chopped habanero peppers, salt substitute, garlic powder & onion powder.)

[simplezz]

oh ****, this stuff is in butter as well? How can we tell from the ingredients that it contains Diacetyl? I just had a look on the back of my butter and it does have 'Di-Glycerides' - does that mean it might contain it? The reason I ask is because I know that manufacturers try to hide the fact that beverages contain Aspartame by calling it 'contains a source of phenylalanine', therefore I don't put anything past them in their attempt to poison us with synthetic toxins.

[Raa]

Looks like it could be in some beers too... :/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacetyl

[simplezz]

Looks like it could be in some beers too... :/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacetyl

This is very worrying...

[Nagisan]

Rarely eat buttery popcorn anyway, would much rather have kettle corn (which does not contain Diacetyl) given the option. Glad to see my choice in popcorn is healthier than the alternatives.

Also, according to this article, Orville and Act II popcorn no longer contain Diacetyl as of Dec 17th 2007, so unless you have some really old popcorn or a different brand that still uses diacetyl, even buttery popcorn no longer contains it these days.

[Glassed Silver]

I don't always eat popcorn, but when I do - I forgot...

Glassed Silver:mac

[The Laughing Man]

Meh, I really have never liked popcorn. The thought of picking the leftovers from my teeth really keeps me away from the stuff.

both my parents have alzheimer's, i hope your parents will too, you ****ing jokey little ****s!!

You sound upset., My grandfather has it as well, you don't see me whining about it.