Artificial Butter Flavouring Linked To Alzheimer's Disease Risk

Could Butter Trigger Alzheimer’s?

A buttery food flavouring ingredient found in microwave popcorn could intensify the damaging effects of abnormal brain proteins linked to Alzheimer’s, a recent study has suggested.

Diacetyl (DA), an artificial food flavouring that gives popcorn and margarine its distinctive butter taste, encourages beta-amyloid proteins in the brain to ‘clump’ together, according to findings published in the Chemical Research in Toxicology journal.

This damaging ‘clumping’ process is a hallmark for Alzheimer’s disease.

Artificial butter flavouring linked to Alzheimer's

Researchers from the American Chemical Society also warned that DA could easily penetrate the so-called ‘blood-brain barrier’, which prevents harmful substances from entering the brain.

Furthermore, the artificial flavouring also stopped a protective protein called Glyoxalase I reaching the brain – a key protein that safeguards nerve cells.

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

What is Diacetyl?

Diacetyl is a natural byproduct of fermentation.The DA chemical also forms naturally in fermented beverages such as beer, and gives some chardonnay wines a buttery taste. Diacetyl, at low level, gives beer or wine a slippery feel. At higher levels one can taste a butterscotch flavour.

However, researchers added that the study focused on factory workers who worked at microwave popcorn and food-flavouring factories, and were therefore more exposed to the chemical.

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