Did consumption of flour bleached by the agene process contribute to the incidence of neurological disease?

The present report proposes the hypothesis that increased levels of neurode generative disorders in humans may have arisen due to inclusion in the diet of methionine sulfoximine (MSO), a byproduct of the bleaching of flour by nitrogen trichloride. This method of bleaching, the 'agene process' was in use from early in the century and continued until at least 1949/1950. Estim ates indicate that, at least in the UK, as much as 80% of all flour during this period was produced by this process. MSO acts directly to inhibit the production of two crucial molecules, glutathione (GSH) and glutamine. Decre ases in GSH, a key antioxidant and free radical scavenger, diminish the bod y's antioxidant defenses and may lead to increased oxidative stress. Decrea ses in glutamine synthesis may act to increase free glutamate and give rise to increased levels of ammonia. Cells in the nervous system are particular ly sensitive to a decline in either GSH or glutamine. The combined effects of decreases in these molecules, particularly with long-term exposure to MS O in bleached flour, may have had quite drastic effects on neuronal health and survival. The present hypothesis may provide clues to the etiology of n eurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), suggesting that such disorde rs may arise in part due to toxic actions of some compounds in processed hu man foods.