Immune system

Eat broccoli sprouts for your skin!

gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

This 2020 Swiss review subject was the interaction of Nrf2 activators and skin:

“The electrophile and Nrf2 activator dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is an established and efficient drug for patients suffering from the common inflammatory skin disease psoriasis. DMF is being tested for pharmacological activity in several other inflammatory skin conditions.

dmf

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease affecting 2–4% of the population and plaque psoriasis is the most common type, affecting about 90% of all patients. As about 30% of all patients suffer from moderate and severe psoriasis, there is a strong need for efficient systemic treatment options with few side effects.

SFN [sulforaphane] blocks NF-κB activity by several mechanisms. SFN oxidizes IκB, thereby inhibiting its phosphorylation and downstream NF-κB activation, but also targets specific cysteine residues of p50/p65, causing a reduction in DNA binding.

More indirect effects have also been suggested. SFN induces HO-1 expression via Nrf2, which in turn inhibits NF-κB. The isothiocyanate can also react with and oxidize components of cellular redox buffers, such as glutathione and thioredoxin, which are required to retain NF-κB’s DNA-binding capacity.

NLRP3 is believed to be critically involved in common diseases, whereas its role in immunity is rather minor. The mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation are of high medical interest.

Electrophiles can directly inhibit inflammasome activation. SFN inhibits activation of NLRP3 in the absence of NRF2 expression in a very fast manner, suggesting that transcriptional effects are not relevant for NLRP3 inhibition. SFN inhibits NLRP3 even in KEAP1 knockout cells.

All these results demonstrate that electrophiles can inhibit the inflammasome pathway in a direct manner, perhaps via the modification of reactive cysteine residues of inflammasome proteins or those which regulate activation of these complexes.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7072181/ “Electrophiles against (Skin) Diseases: More Than Nrf2”

These reviewers focused on a pharmaceutical. Read this article for progress made on a generic:

“Biogen is expected to appeal this ruling against its Tecfidera patent protection, which is not due to expire until 2028. Its list price is reported to be about $2,026 for a two-week (14 day) supply at 120 mg.

‘The District Court decision clears the legal pathway for us to bring our dimethyl fumarate product to market, and we are working with the FDA to accelerate our regulatory approval target action date, which currently is November 16.'”

Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That Matters? listed 15 mouse studies and 4 human studies of sulforaphane treatments of skin diseases in Supplementary Material Table S3.

From Novel Nrf2 activators from microbial transformation products inhibit blood–retinal barrier permeability in rabbits:

“The cysteine residue of sulforaphane works as a weak electrophile and it interacts with cysteine residues of Keap1. Dimethyl fumarate is also a weak electrophile.

Nrf2 activity was evaluated by NQO1 induction activity in Hepa1c1c7 cells. RS9 was the most potent and the concentration needed to double (CD) the specific Nrf2 activity was 0.2 nM. The CD values for bardoxolone methyl, sulforaphane and dimethyl fumarate were 0.9 nM, 154.4 nM and 13.3 μM respectively.”

1. This review didn’t mention dimethyl fumarate’s NQO1 induction CD value because..? It’s one of Nrf2 signaling pathway’s main studied parameters, along with HO-1. For example, from Autism biomarkers and sulforaphane:

“This time point was chosen based on our earlier observations of kinetics of upregulation of Nrf2-dependent genes by SF, and was expected to capture increased mRNA production of both very fast (HO-1) and relatively slow (NQO1) responders.”

2. What about adverse effects? From Sulforaphane and RNAs:

“DMF is the most successful Nrf2 activator, FDA-approved in 2013 for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. However, DMF causes leukopenia and other side-effects.

Bardoxolone cleared Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but was halted in Phase III trials due to cardiovascular concerns.”

3. What about prevention mechanisms for skin problems? Skin care isn’t just cancer prevention.

So – what can a person do to treat an inflammation problem in our largest organ, our skin?

  • Pay $2,026 every two weeks to take a daily 120 mg dose of a brand name pharmaceutical?
  • Wait around for some hypothetical future “development of new tailor-made molecules and drugs for the many inflammatory conditions which are associated with Nrf2, NF-κB and inflammasomes”?
  • Try other treatments that just address symptoms, not causes?

Or eat daily clinically-relevant broccoli sprout dosages for < $500 a year?

Week 19 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress

To follow up Week 18:

1. Continued attention to broccoli sprout gardening details was this week’s theme. The 12-6-6 schedule had an extra rinse during lunch time.

I stopped when the 8/3 evening batch smelled bad. Broccoli sprouts don’t do well with too much moisture.

I didn’t have this problem on a 12-12 schedule of two rinses. But I also didn’t have good yields.

I switched to an 8-8-8 schedule, and the problem didn’t recur. However, intervals were 5:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 9:00 p.m. That led to eating broccoli sprouts too early and too late, and disrupting my sleep.

8-8-8 also didn’t produce optimal yields. The top two yields this week were both on 8/5. Those two batches started on 8/2, and apparently benefited from a 12-6-6 schedule during their initial germination stages.

I switched back to 12-6-6 on 8/7 with an extra step of rinsing my strainer and teaspoon between batch rinses. Not sure this step addresses whatever happened on 8/3, but it protects against one batch’s problems spreading to other batches. I’ll continue 12-6-6 unless I cause moisture problems, in which case I’ll return to a 12-12 routine.

The (65.5 gram x 2) = 131 g daily average of this week’s broccoli sprouts has been factored into Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds numbers for broccoli seeds, sprouts and their compounds. Some worst-case scenarios change to evidenced estimates, such as consuming 52 mg sulforaphane daily by microwaving 131 g of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts.

I’ll update the many blog posts that reference these estimates. Most of them can be recognized from strikethrough typography.

2. During the 8-8-8 schedule I ate microwaved broccoli sprouts with supplements and sauerkraut instead of during a meal. I wondered if meal composition made any difference to broccoli sprout compounds. My meals are breakfast started with 1/2 cup (82 grams) of steel-cut oats, Boring Chicken Vegetable Soup for dinner, and leftover soup at lunch.

A 2018 Netherlands study Bioavailability of Isothiocyanates From Broccoli Sprouts in Protein, Lipid, and Fiber Gels found:

“Compared to the control broccoli sprout, incorporation of sprouts in gels led to lower bioavailability for preformed sulforaphane and iberin.”

IAW, eating protein, fats, and fiber along with microwaved broccoli sprouts wouldn’t help. So I’ll keep eating them with supplements for synergies* but not immediately before or after meals.

A 2018 review with some of the same researchers Isothiocyanates from Brassica Vegetables-Effects of Processing, Cooking, Mastication, and Digestion offered one possible explanation for protein acting to lower broccoli sprout compounds’ bioavailability:

“In vitro studies show that ITCs can potentially react with amino acids, peptides, and proteins, and this reactivity may reduce the ITC bioavailability in protein‐rich foods. More in vivo studies should be performed to confirm the outcome obtained in vitro.”

3. I mix in homemade sauerkraut when I eat microwaved broccoli sprouts. It helps ensure that I thoroughly chew sprouts. Wouldn’t expect anyone else to like unsalted sauerkraut.


Continued with Week 20 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts.

*See Broccoli sprout synergies for details.

Sulforaphane clinical trials and COVID-19

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

A plethora of articles have been published this year on how researchers’ favorite topics can / may / should / could / will fix COVID-19. This one was different in that relevant clinical trials were both completed and already underway before a Madness of Crowds behavioral contagion infected us:

“It is crucial to understand the most appropriate context for introducing an anti-inflammatory therapy to complement an antiviral therapy. Such therapy must control inflammation without altering the ability of the host to mount an efficient adaptive immune response against the virus.

We propose that boosting endogenous cellular defenses by targeting the cytoprotective transcription factor Nrf2 (gene name NFE2L2) will promote the resolution of COVID-19 associated inflammation and also restore redox homeostasis and facilitate tissue repair.

The isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN) is the most potent naturally occurring NRF2 activator, with well-documented antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The high bioavailability of SFN makes it an excellent candidate for alleviating excessive anti-inflammatory responses and protecting the lungs.

Even though Nrf2 is the primary mediator, additional factors contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects of SFN. SFN inhibits NF-κB, inhibitor of NF-κB kinase subunit β (IKKβ), and STAT3.

By regulating the endogenous cytoprotective systems, Nrf2 may have a more physiological role in achieving a balance between the beneficial and adverse effects of inflammation. Nrf2 inhibits IL-6 and IL-1β gene expression.

Antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of Nrf2 activation are long-lasting and persist for several days after inducer elimination. They are mediated by enzymes that, in contrast to small molecules, have long half-lives and are not consumed, and are instead regenerated during the reactions which they catalyze.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7359808/ “Can Activation of Nfr2 Be a Strategy against COVID-19?”

The paper also documented in vitro, animal, and non-clinical human Nrf2 activator studies relevant to causes and effects.

Week 18 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress

1. After eating broccoli sprouts every day for 120 consecutive days, I finally got serious enough to spend $16 on a kitchen scale. 🙂 It’s really a jewelers scale, as it has carat, grain, and troy ounce units of measure in addition to gram and ounce.

Twice a day I start a new batch of broccoli sprouts with one tablespoon broccoli seeds of unspecified variety. I measured successive tablespoons at 10.2, 11.4, and 10.6 grams, and have since started each new batch with 10.7 grams of broccoli seeds.

Each new batch soaks for 12 hours. I rehydrate the other five batches for five minutes before draining, and clump together developing sprouts to look like this:

At room temperature and darkness, each drained batch is close to being completely dry every 12 hours. Laboratories provide water more frequently during germination.

The below weight measurements of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts are dry and wet (soaked five minutes then drained). Microwaving acts directly on a material’s water content, so I don’t microwave dry broccoli sprouts.

The trend reminds me of an initial step of quality programs – improvements start with measurements.

I’ve used Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds worst-cases in estimates of broccoli seeds, sprouts and their compounds. I’ve factored these estimates with the above numbers. Compare them with strikethrough numbers – you may be surprised.

I won’t update posts where I’ve used these new estimates quite yet. A convenient action for my work-from-home-during-this-manufactured-crisis situation would be to rinse developing broccoli sprouts at lunch time, about 6 hours into their current 12-hour cycle. I’ll try that for a few days to see if it’s an improvement.

2. I reordered broccoli seeds from the same vendor. Their label is cropped so that its information will neither be mistaken for an endorsement, nor confused with originating from any basis in science:

The label’s Serving Size is new. I moved from one to two tablespoons after Week 5 of Changing an inflammatory phenotype with broccoli sprouts.

I contacted the company for further clarification:

“Just received broccoli seeds. I notice that Serving Size is two tablespoons. Is there any specific research you can point me to for understanding the two tablespoons?”

They responded:

“If I understand correctly you are using the broccoli seed for sprouting?

If so, the 2 Tablespoon size is a recommendation/guideline, depending on the size jar you are using and how much you would prefer to yield. 2 Tablespoons – 1/2 cup is a good range to stay within for sprouts to have room to grow and be rinsed properly ( for most sprouting jars).

Serving size for eating is subjective and you should sprout, sprout, sprout if they are a regular to your daily meals 😊

Please let us know more about your inquiry so we can best help, thanks. 🌼”

“Subjective” is probably the basis of other vendors’ recommendations as well. At least this vendor now uses the word “seeds” on their broccoli seeds package label.

Continued with Week 19 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts.

 

A cherry-picked DNA methylation study

gettingwell4 0-1 star Wasted resources, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress , , ,

This 2020 US/Sweden/Denmark human study measured twins during their old age:

“We evaluate individual differences in DNA methylation at individual CpG sites across the methylome across 10 years in two Scandinavian samples of same‐sex aging twins. We test two competing hypotheses about the longitudinal stability and change in DNA methylation:

  1. The contribution of genetic influences changes with age, reflecting diminishing influence across time; and
  2. Nonshared factors accumulate in importance, signaling an increasing diversity of response to environmental exposures.

Understanding epigenetic changes over time in the elderly may identify pathways of decline or plasticity (e.g., maintenance or even boosts in functioning) during the aging process and help with elucidating the biology of aging and survival.

Across time, stability in methylation is primarily due to genetic contributions, while novel experiences and exposures contribute to methylation differences. Elevated genetic contributions at age‐related methylation sites suggest that adaptions to aging and senescence may be differentially impacted by genetic background.”

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/acel.13197 “A decade of epigenetic change in aging twins: Genetic and environmental contributions to longitudinal DNA methylation”

Swedish subject measurements were taken at ages 62 and 72. Danish subject measurements were taken at ages 76 and 86.

One epigenetic clock that used 2019 technology was favored over three others, including Horvath’s 2013 original clock. For some reason this study didn’t use his 2018 skin-and-blood clock that had vastly improved technology such as an 18-fold increase in genomic coverage with Illumina 450k/850k bead arrays.

These researchers’ intentions became evident with:

“The 353 Horvath clock sites were selected as best predictors of chronological age using multiple tissues. The 71 Hannum clock sites best predicted age (adjusted for sex, BMI) based on methylation observed in whole blood while the 514 sites from the Zhang prediction model relied on methylation observed in blood and saliva samples (Zhang et al., 2019).

The current findings of moderately higher heritabilities in the Zhang and Hannum sites versus the other clock sites may be in part due to our use of blood tissue.”

The 18-fold increase improved accuracy in blood for the 2018 Horvath clock. Could these researchers ignore it and claim they did their due diligence in 2019 and 2020?

A larger issue was this study’s duality paradigm of either heritability or environment being solely responsible for observed changes. Consider what A blood plasma aging clock found at ages 60 and 78 peaks:

The above changes were due to life stage. Josh Mitteldorf did his usual excellent job of providing contexts for that study with New Aging Clock based on Proteins in the Blood, including:

“The implication is that a more accurate clock can be constructed if it incorporates different information at different life stages. None of the Horvath clocks have been derived based on different CpG sites at different ages, and this suggests an opportunity for a potential improvement in accuracy.”

Weren’t changes in subjects’ life stages relevant to their epigenetic changes? Why wouldn’t their life stages have been among the causes of observed effects?

Sulforaphane and RNAs

gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Epigenetics, Hippocampus, Immune system, Limbic system, Memory, Stress , , ,

This 2020 Texas review subject was long non-coding RNAs:

“We review the emerging significance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) as downstream targets and upstream regulators of the Nrf2 signaling pathway, a critical mediator of diverse cellular processes linked to increased cell survival.

It is believed that more than 3% of human genes are regulated by the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway. In addition to the classical cytoprotective and oxidative stress response genes transactivated by Nrf2, emerging evidence suggests a role for non-coding transcript regulation at the level of noncoding RNAs, [which] far outnumber protein-coding genes in the human genome.

One important distinction between miRNAs and lncRNAs is that the latter are often species-specific, meaning that a human lncRNA typically cannot be studied in the mouse or rat, and vice versa.

Sulforaphane (SFN) acts via multiple mechanisms to modulate gene expression, including the induction of Nrf2-dependent signaling. In addition to the established canonical targets of Nrf2, such as NQO1 and HMOX1, SFN altered the expression of multiple lncRNAs.

Given that SFN induces NMRAL2P [a lncRNA pseudogene] and several other lncRNAs in colon cancer cells, further studies are warranted on their respective roles as upstream regulators and/or downstream targets of Nrf2 signaling.

Pharmacological modulation of Nrf2 is considered a viable strategy against chronic conditions that are accompanied by oxidative stress and inflammation:

  • DMF [dimethyl fumurate] is the most successful Nrf2 activator, FDA-approved in 2013 for the treatment of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. However, DMF causes leukopenia and other side-effects.
  • Bardoxolone cleared Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but was halted in Phase III trials due to cardiovascular concerns.
  • SFN is relatively unstable at room temperature.

We used reported bioinformatics approaches to search for putative ARE [antioxidant response element] sequences among the entire set of 16,000+ annotated human lncRNAs. 13,285 promoter regions contained one or more potential binding sites for Nrf2.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0304383520303670 “Emerging crosstalk between long non-coding RNAs and Nrf2 signaling”

This study hyped lncRNAs in that only 7 have been validated as Nrf2 targets, and 8 validated as Nrf2 regulators. For regulators, “protein and/or miRNA interacting partners are yet to be fully corroborated” as well.

Also, there’s no need for a “SFN is relatively unstable at room temperature” problem. Just create sulforaphane right before consuming it.

Twice a day I microwave an average 65.5 grams of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts immersed in 100 ml water with a 1000W microwave on full power for 35 seconds to ≤ 60°C. After microwaving I transfer broccoli sprouts to a strainer, and wait five minutes to allow further myrosinase hydrolization of glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds.

Reprogram inflammation with β-glucan

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress

This 2020 French human cell study found:

“Exposure of mononuclear phagocytes to β-glucan contributes to the induction of innate immune memory, which is associated with long-term epigenetic, metabolic, and functional reprogramming. We investigated how preincubation of human monocytes with particulate β-glucan affects the biological response of macrophages following NLRP3 inflammasome activation.

Upon infection or cellular damage, NLRP3 assembles into a multiprotein inflammasome complex leading to the release of IL-1β. However, NLRP3 inflammasome activity can also be detrimental to the host, and its aberrant chronic activation is associated with severe pathologies.

β-Glucan is a safe molecule present in food products and already widely used in food supplementation. Although β-glucan–induced innate memory is associated with a nonspecific protective effect against infections, the role of this functional reprogramming in autoinflammatory disorders is unknown.

Because of the administration frequency and conservation needs, IL-1β–targeted therapy is invasive, complex, and also costly. In addition, IL-1β, an acute-phase protein, is crucial for effective immune responses to infection, and inhibitors targeting IL-1β may lead to unintended immunosuppressive effects in addition to preventing NLRP3 inflammasome activity in itself.

Targeting the origin of the disease, i.e., NLRP3, would represent the best therapeutic strategy. Most of these candidate drugs directly interact with NLRP3, but none seems to regulate the early activation events upstream of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly.

β-Glucan acted upstream of the NLRP3 inflammasome. β-glucan–induced innate immune memory represses IL-1β–mediated inflammation and support its potential clinical use in NLRP3-driven diseases.”

https://www.jci.org/articles/view/134778 “β-Glucan–induced reprogramming of human macrophages inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in cryopyrinopathies”

This study came closer to addressing causes than others with:

“Targeting the origin of the disease would represent the best therapeutic strategy.”

It’s apparently too recent with a July 27th published date to make it onto https://www.betaglucan.org/i-p/, but earlier β-glucan inflammation studies may be found there.

Topical sulforaphane protects skin

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress ,

This 2020 Rutgers rodent study explored topical application of sulforaphane to prevent UVB-induced skin carcinogenesis:

“We investigated the transcriptomic and DNA methylomic changes during tumor initiation, promotion, and progression and its impact and reversal by sulforaphane (SFN). The production of ROS and inflammation are closely linked to UVB-induced carcinogenesis. SFN protects skin cells from UVB-induced damage mainly through promoting anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and anticancer pathways.

We observed the changes after 2, 15 and 25 weeks of UVB exposure, which would represent the three different stages of skin cancer development. After 2 weeks of UVB exposure, we did not observe any obvious tumors in the UVB group. But after 15 weeks of UVB exposure, some obvious tumors were observed in the skin.

After 15 weeks of UVB treatment in epidermal tissue, the difference between the UVB group and the control group was significantly more than that between the SFN group versus the UVB group. SFN appears to have better cancer-protective effects in earlier time points (weeks 14 and 20) than later time point (week 24). At weeks 20, SFN had significantly fewer tumors with decreased total tumor volume and tumor number.

SFN plays a highly regulatory role in various signaling pathways during UVB irradiation. SFN impacts UVB-induced alterations of DNA methylation profiles, and importantly, SFN treatment attenuates some of these DNA methylation changes. We found a subset of genes associated with SFN treatment, and the relevant changes in gene expression may be driven by promoter CpG methylation status.”

https://cancerpreventionresearch.aacrjournals.org/content/13/6/551 “Epigenome, Transcriptome, and Protection by Sulforaphane at Different Stages of UVB-Induced Skin Carcinogenesis” (not freely available)

We’re getting closer to using epigenetic clocks in sulforaphane studies. This study ignored the 2018 A multi-tissue full lifespan epigenetic clock for mice in favor of their homegrown DNA methylation measurements.

A search of ClinicalTrials.gov didn’t turn up directly relevant human studies.

Eat sauerkraut today!

gettingwell4 2-3 stars Required further work, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress , ,

This 2017 Spanish article reviewed health benefits of sauerkraut:

“During cabbage shredding and fermentation, a disruption of cabbage cells occurs, and GLS [glucosinolates] are hydrolyzed by myrosinase enzyme to a variety of GLS breakdown products. In particular, glucobrassicin is hydrolyzed into indol-3-carbinol (I3C) by myrosinase.

As the pH decreases during cabbage fermentation, I3C reacts nonenzymatically with ascorbic acid to yield ascorbigen (ABG). Studies have shown that ABG is the main GLS breakdown compound in sauerkraut, and it is present at levels between 3 and 18 μmol/100 g fw.

The antioxidant activity observed for sauerkraut in all studies was higher than that observed in raw cabbage.

It has been reported that doses between 53 and 150 μmol of ITCs [isothiocyanates] are enough to display anticarcinogenic effects. Taking into account that the content of ITCs in sauerkraut is in the range 22 μmol/100 g fw, it could be assumed that a weekly consumption of 200–250 g of sauerkraut would provide effective ITC doses to exert cancer chemopreventive effects.

Many studies reported that LAB [lactic acid bacteria] isolated from sauerkraut are potential probiotics.”

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128023099000248 “Sauerkraut: Production, Composition, and Health Benefits” (not freely available)

This introductory article presented interesting facts, but oversold sauerkraut. Dose and other conditional dependencies in order to achieve health and disease prevention benefits seemed to be beyond its scope.

A more considered view was offered in Fermented Food and Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases which referenced this article:

“Clinical data about the effects of sauerkraut on the human organism, health and disease are scarce. There is knowledge concerning particular compounds in sauerkraut and their impacts on diseases; however, a literature search revealed mostly cell line or rat experiments with very limited conclusions for humans.”

Earlier this month I started eating refrigerated sauerkraut twice a day with microwaved broccoli sprouts. I mix in three heaping teaspoons each time, and finish a 50 oz (1418 g) container in a week.

The mixture tastes better than just microwaved broccoli sprouts. It requires more chewing, which assists myrosinase hydrolization of broccoli sprout glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds.

Although sauerkraut isn’t a primary source, there may be beneficial amounts of probiotics etc. that increase what I get with broccoli sprouts and supplements.

I also started making my own sauerkraut using the commercial product’s juice as a starter. I add garlic but not salt. No results yet.

Take responsibility for your one precious life – β glucan

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

From the main page of https://www.betaglucan.org/, a compilation for researchers:

“Beta Glucan extracted from yeast cell wall, can be a potent immune response potentiator and modulator. A common test to determine a glucan’s immune response potentiation effectiveness is the measure of the degree to which a glucan increases the nitric oxide burst, a pathogen killing agent.

Determinants of immune response activation and effectiveness are beta glucan source, processing, sizing and uniformity of beta glucan particles ingested. Particle size of 1-4 microns is optimum. Ingestion is optimized to prevent reaggregation.”

A sample of research:

“The tested (and suggested) daily dose remains in the range of 100–500 mg for stimulation of the immune system, whereas for a decrease in cholesterol levels a daily dose of 3 g is recommended.

Glucan supplementation prevents or even treats metabolic syndrome and decreases insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and obesity. Glucan supplementation is a highly promising and inexpensive method of treatment for chronic respiratory problems.

Reactions known to be influenced by glucan are represented in white, reactions where glucan has no confirmed effects are shown in black.”

https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/24/7/1251/htm “Beta Glucan: Supplement or Drug? From Laboratory to Clinical Trials”

“Supplementation with glucan and vitamin D resulted in significant increase of vitamin D levels, improvements of HDL levels, and strong decrease of the total level of cholesterol.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5897984/ “Effects of β-glucan and Vitamin D Supplementation on Inflammatory Parameters in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy”

“β-glucan inhibits tumor growth through induced systemic tumor-antigen specific T cell response, increased activity of T-cells in tumor, and decreased number of tumor-caused immunosuppressive cells. Sulforaphane inhibits CRC [colorectal cancer] carcinogenesis by modulating Nrf2 activity and inhibition of HDAC enzymes.

In a women’s health initiative prospective cohort during their 11.7-year follow up of dietary fiber and omega-3, -6 fatty acids, the results pointed out a reduced incidence of CRC for the association between a low dose of soluble fiber, a high dose of insoluble fiber, and a high dose of EPA and DHA.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6321468/ “Chemoprevention of Colorectal Cancer by Dietary Compounds”

I first curated the above review and graphic in Train your immune system every day! 12 days into a self-quarantine after coming back from Milano, Italy, Monday, February 24, 2020. There’s a substantial probability that my traveling companion and I were exposed to COVID-19.

Yet neither of us had any symptoms then or since. My β-glucan, Vitamin D3, and zinc amounts were the same as described in that post, in Take responsibility for your one precious life – Vitamin D3, and in Take responsibility for your one precious life – Zinc.

Take responsibility for your one precious life – Vitamin D3

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Brain development, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress , , , , , , ,

Where to start among 6,489 studies and reviews published during the past five years, results from a PubMed search of “dihydroxyvitamin D3.” How about:

“Vitamin D plays a fundamental role in body calcium and phosphorous homeostasis, ensuring proper functioning of the skeletomuscular system. Pleiotropic activities include:

  • Anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties (predominantly downregulation of adaptive and upregulation of innate immunity);
  • An important role in reproduction, pregnancy, placental functions and fetal and child development;
  • Important in neurodevelopment as well as in the functioning of the adult central and peripheral nervous system;
  • Regulation of global metabolic and endocrine homeostasis and the functions of different endocrine organs, as well as in the functioning of the cardiovascular system;
  • Inhibits malignant transformation, tumor progression and has anti-cancer properties on a variety of tumors;
  • Formation of the epidermal barrier and hair cycling; and
  • Ameliorating effects on skin cancer and on proliferative and inflammatory cutaneous diseases.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6342654/ “The serum vitamin D metabolome: What we know and what is still to discover”

Or maybe:

“A study in 6,275 American children and adolescents aged 1–21 years showed that 61% were 25-(OH)D3 insufficient and 9% deficient. In adults, up to 40% are 25-(OH)D3 insufficient and 6% deficient.

Once adequate vitamin D values are reached, to further preserve adequate vitamin D levels in adults, the IOM [Institute of Medicine] recommends a daily dose of 600 IU per day, while the Endocrine Society recommends a dose of 600–2000 IU per day (according to the amount of sunlight the individual is exposed to). There seems to be no additional health benefit in doses higher than 4000 IU/day.

Vitamin D supplementation was protective against acute respiratory tract infections in a 25-(OH)D3 deficient population, especially in those receiving daily or weekly supplementation. However, in children this protective effect could not be reproduced.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7281985/ “Vitamin D’s Effect on Immune Function”

Not to forget Advanced glycation end products alter steroidogenic gene expression by granulosa cells: an effect partially reversible by vitamin D:

“This study suggests that there is a relationship between AGEs (advanced glycation end products) and their receptors (RAGE and sRAGE) with vitamin D. Understanding the interaction between AGEs and vitamin D in ovarian physiology could lead to a more targeted therapy for the treatment of ovarian dysfunction.”

Or similarities to broccoli sprouts’ main effect of Nrf2 signaling pathway activation:

“1,25(OH)2D3 plays a role in delaying aging by upregulating Nrf2, inhibiting oxidative stress and DNA damage, inactivating p53‐p21 and p16‐Rb signaling pathways, and inhibiting cell senescence and SASP.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6516172/ “1,25‐Dihydroxyvitamin D exerts an antiaging role by activation of Nrf2‐antioxidant signaling and inactivation of p16/p53‐senescence signaling”

Why do we insist on giving ourselves non-communicable diseases?

I recently paid $22.53 after tax for a nearly two-year supply:

A better use of one’s money would be..?

My June 2020 serum 25-OH Vitamin D measurement was 76 on a scale of 0 to 100 from taking a total of 3,400 IU daily. It’s fat-soluble, so I take it along with 1 gram flax oil each time.

Take responsibility for your own one precious life.

Take responsibility for your one precious life – Zinc

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Stress , , , ,

This 2020 review highlighted earlier clinical data on zinc:

  • “Zinc is known to modulate antiviral and antibacterial immunity and regulate inflammatory response.
  • Zinc possesses anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-κB signaling and modulation of regulatory T-cell functions.
  • The most critical role of zinc is demonstrated for the immune system.
  • Zinc regulates proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and functioning of leukocytes and lymphocytes.

Alteration of zinc status significantly affects immune response resulting in increased susceptibility to inflammatory and infectious diseases including acquired immune deficiency syndrome, measles, malaria, tuberculosis, and pneumonia. Zinc status is associated with the prevalence of respiratory tract infections in children and adults.

In view of the high prevalence of zinc deficiency worldwide (up to 17%), its impact on population health is considered as a significant issue. Certain groups of people, including infants, especially preterm ones, and elderly, are considered to be at high risk of zinc deficiency and its adverse effects.

Zinc was shown to have a significant impact on viral infections through modulation of viral particle entry, fusion, replication, viral protein translation and further release for a number of viruses including those involved in respiratory system pathology. Increasing intracellular Zn levels through application of Zn ionophores significantly alters replication of picornavirus, the leading cause of common cold.

The results of systematic analysis confirmed the efficiency of intake of at least 75 mg/day Zn in reduction of pneumonia symptom duration but not severity, with the response being more pronounced in adults than in children.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7255455/ “Zinc and respiratory tract infections: Perspectives for COVID-19”

The review noted a 2014 rodent cell study which found:

“Labile zinc, a tiny fraction of total intracellular zinc that is loosely bound to proteins and easily interchangeable, modulates the activity of numerous signaling and metabolic pathways. Dietary plant polyphenols such as the flavonoids quercetin and epigallocatechin-gallate act as antioxidants and as signaling molecules. The activities of numerous enzymes that are targeted by polyphenols are dependent on zinc.

We have demonstrated the capacity of quercetin and epigallocatechin-gallate to rapidly increase labile zinc. The polyphenols transport zinc cations across the plasma membrane independently of plasma membrane zinc transporters.

The ionophore activity of dietary polyphenols may underlay the raising of labile zinc levels triggered in cells by polyphenols and thus many of their biological actions.”

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jf5014633 “Zinc Ionophore Activity of Quercetin and Epigallocatechin-gallate: From Hepa 1-6 Cells to a Liposome Model” (not freely available)

I get EGCG from drinking 4-5 cups of green tea every day, and 65 mg zinc from supplements. Microwave broccoli to increase flavonoid levels demonstrated 108.5% to 129.8% increases in quercetin and kaempferol levels from microwaving grocery-store broccoli. Microwaving 3-day-old broccoli sprouts may be expected to increase my worst-case calculation of daily 134 mg total flavonoids.

I’ve taken quercetin intermittently per Preliminary findings from a senolytics clinical trial. I’m changing that to take 100 mg quercetin daily.

Take responsibility for your own one precious life.

Autism biomarkers and sulforaphane

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This 2020 US human study investigated autism improvements with sulforaphane:

“Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders that, in the United States, is currently estimated to affect 1 out of 59 children who are 8 years old. Despite decades of research and advances in our knowledge of etiologies of ASD, treatments and biomarkers for ASD remain limited.

The primary diagnosis of ASD still relies on observational tools that are by nature subjective. There are currently no drugs approved to treat core symptoms of ASD, nor are there any studies using SF [sulforaphane] in genetic mouse models of ASD.

In our previous placebo-controlled, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial, daily administration of SF for 4-18 weeks substantially improved behavioral abnormalities of the majority of 26 young males with moderate to severe ASD without significant toxicity. The multi-functional phytochemical sulforaphane affects many biochemical abnormalities associated with ASD.

We investigated potential molecular markers from three ASD-associated physiological pathways that can be affected by sulforaphane:

  1. Redox metabolism / oxidative stress;
  2. Heat shock response; and
  3. Immune dysregulation / inflammation

in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy donors and patients with ASD.

Three representative Nrf2 [nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2]-dependent enzymes:

  1. AKR1C1 [aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C1];
  2. NQO1 [dehydrogenase quinone 1]; and
  3. HO-1 [heme oxygenase]

were significantly induced by 6 h of 2 μM or 5 μM SF ex vivo treatments in PBMCs from healthy donors. This time point was chosen based on our earlier observations of kinetics of upregulation of Nrf2-dependent genes by SF, and was expected to capture increased mRNA production of both very fast (HO-1) and relatively slow (NQO1) responders.

There was no concentration-dependence in induction of any genes examined, with higher (5 μM) concentration of SF even showing a slightly diminished effect for induction of AKR1C1 and NQO1. Although this concentration is achievable in vivo, more typical peak concentrations of SF (and its metabolites) in human plasma are 1-2 μM.

SF ex vivo pre-treatment significantly decreased the LPS [lipopolysaccharides]-stimulated inflammatory gene (

  • COX-2,
  • TNF-α,
  • IL-6 and
  • IL-1β

) expression levels in PBMCs from healthy donors.

As a pilot study for a clinical trial of SF in children with ASD, we evaluated the same biomarkers from the ex vivo studies in 10 young males with ASD, 6-12 years of age, who received SF (in the form of a dietary supplement containing GR [glucoraphanin] and myrosinase), 2.2 μmol/kg/d for 14 days. Grouping by broad functionality (e.g. cytoprotective or pro-inflammatory), differences from baseline were highly significant.

asd gene expression

Individually none is sufficiently specific or sensitive, but when grouped by function as two panels, these biomarkers show promise for monitoring pharmacodynamic responses to sulforaphane in both healthy and autistic humans, and providing guidance for biomedical interventions. We conducted this study in the context of ASD, however our findings have broader implications and suggest that these biomarkers can be used in any study involving an intervention with SF.

Major signaling pathways for protective mechanisms against ASD by SF:

  • (a) Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway,
  • (b) NF-κB inflammatory pathway,
  • (c) Heat-shock responses.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7118069/ “Biomarker Exploration in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells for Monitoring Sulforaphane Treatment Responses in Autism Spectrum Disorder”

This was a pilot study. Does sulforaphane treat autism? was its follow-on clinical trial.

Broccoli sprouts and sulforaphane aren’t panaceas. Their research is becoming more intensive and focused, though.

Microwave broccoli seeds to create sulforaphane

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Epigenetics, Immune system, Memory, Stress ,

Two sulforaphane topics came up in discussions with my traveling companion. Our first was an inference:

  1. 3-day-old broccoli sprouts have the optimal yields found that broccoli sprout sulforaphane content (after processing for analysis) ranged from 46% to 97% of broccoli seeds.
  2. Microwave broccoli to increase sulforaphane levels found that microwaving broccoli florets to 60°C (140°F) increased the sulforaphane amount from .22 to 2.45 µmol / g (1,114%!!).
  3. Wouldn’t broccoli seeds’ sulforaphane be more than broccoli sprouts by microwaving seeds up to 60°C in the same amount of water?

The 3-day study broccoli sprout measurements were relative to each variety’s seeds:

“To be comparable, the content of these bioactive compounds from 100 fresh sprouts was divided by the weight (gram) of 100 seeds, and then this value was compared with their content from one gram seeds.”

Broccoli compounds are similar among broccoli florets, sprouts, and seeds. A major difference is that broccoli sprouts and seeds have no initial sulforaphane content because hydrolization hasn’t occurred yet. The above graphic’s seed and sprout sulforaphane content was created by processing for analysis.

I’ll reason that sulforaphane would be created by:

  • Microwaving one tablespoon of broccoli seeds with a 1000W microwave in 100 ml of distilled water for 30 seconds to ≤ 60°C; then
  • Straining out the water; then
  • Allowing further myrosinase hydrolization of glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds.

Broccoli seeds are dry, and microwaving acts directly on a material’s water content. The 3-day study methods “immersed [broccoli seeds] in distilled water and soaked at 30°C for 2 h” to start germination. I’ll stipulate two hours as a minimum broccoli seed soaking time before microwaving.

I’ve tried microwaving broccoli seeds five times so far to see if they’re palatable. Seeds soaked for at least two hours then microwaved for 30 seconds swell to almost twice their dry size. They’re easier to strain, chew thoroughly to ensure hydrolization, and swallow.

The 3-day study also found “total phenolic and flavonoid contents in sprouts were 1.12 to 3.58 times higher than seeds.” I won’t stop eating broccoli sprouts, but sometimes it may be expedient to reduce a 72-hour preparation time to 2 hours and still benefit from sulforaphane and other healthy broccoli compounds.

Let’s use Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds runt-of-the-litter calculations and assumptions to make a worst-case estimate of sulforaphane content in one tablespoon of broccoli seeds:

  • Broccoli seed weight of one tablespoon is 10.7 grams.
  • Worst-case sulforaphane weight in one tablespoon of broccoli seeds (10.7 g x 2.43 mg sulforaphane per gram of seeds) = 26.0 mg.

I won’t calculate sulforaphane weight after microwaving because part of the 3-day study processing for analysis was:

“Broccoli seeds were comminuted by analysis grinder. Seed powder (0.5g) was immersed in distilled water at 55 °C for 5 min to inactivate the epithiospecifier protein.”

Grinding seeds into powder then heating it probably incorporates any effects of microwaving intact broccoli seeds up to 60°C.

Our second discussion topic came by gathering study data from Broccoli or Sulforaphane: Is It the Source or Dose That Matters?

Assessing these 200 μmol amount / 35 mg weight sulforaphane supplement dose studies:

  1. Peak plasma statistics ranged from 0.5 μmol in Row 2 (n = 20) to 2.15 (n = 4) μmol in Row 1. Row 4 (n = 10) statistics don’t show it, but its individual peak plasma ranges per the below graphic were 0.359 μmol to 2.032 μmol. Coincidentally, the Row 4 subject (#2) who had the lowest peak plasma amount also had the lowest urinary % of dose excreted (also termed bioavailability) of 19.5%, and the Row 4 subject (#8) who had the highest peak plasma amount also had the highest sulforaphane bioavailability of 86.9%.
  2. From the Row 4 study: “The half-life of SF in the body was 2.07 ± 0.26 h as calculated from serum area-under-the-curve determinations.” Its Subject #2 had the longest sulforaphane half-life at 2.709 hours.
  3. The peak time after dose ranged from 1 to 3 hours. Not sure why Row 4 didn’t calculate a peak time, but eyeballing the above graphic showed that all subjects peaked between 1 and 2 hours. Row 2’s time was at the study’s first of three measurement intervals (3, 6, and 12 hours). Its peak time after dose probably also took place between 1 and 2 hours.

These four studies showed that there’s wide variation among individual responses to sulforaphane supplements. Row 4 study’s Concluding Remarks ended with:

“Innate metabolic differences must not be discounted when assessing the metabolism of SF alone, delivered in supplements.”

The first of A pair of broccoli sprout studies was Row 2 (n = 20) above. Its sulforaphane supplement statistics – repeated in the below graphic’s BSE (broccoli sprout extract) column – demonstrated how humans’ sulforaphane supplement metabolic profiles were different than our fresh broccoli sprout metabolic profiles:

The divided dose was twelve hours apart at breakfast and dinner times. Also, its first measurements weren’t taken until 3 hours after ingesting, which explains its later times with lesser amounts than the above sulforaphane supplement studies’ earlier times with greater amounts.

During Week 9 of Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts I changed my practices to eat microwaved broccoli sprouts at breakfast and dinner times from its finding:

“In sprout consumers, plasma concentrations were 2.4-fold higher after consuming the second dose than after the first dose.”

A metabolic profile resulting from my current practices is probably between the Sprout and BSE divided-dose statistics:

  • Sulforaphane intake is greater than eating raw broccoli sprouts because microwaving 3-day-old broccoli sprouts creates sulforaphane in them before eating.
  • Sulforaphane uptake from microwaved broccoli sprouts is quicker than eating raw broccoli sprouts. It may not be as immediate as taking sulforaphane supplements, which are usually powders.
  • Sulforaphane dose from microwaved broccoli sprouts is less dependent on an individual’s metabolism than eating raw broccoli sprouts.
  • Sulforaphane release from microwaved broccoli sprouts probably continues on to the gut as does eating raw broccoli sprouts. Sulforaphane release from supplements may not per Does sulforaphane reach the colon?.

The microwaving study processed 10 grams of broccoli florets immersed in 500 ml water with a 950W microwave on full power for 108 seconds to achieve 60°C. I microwave 65.5 grams of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts immersed in 100 ml water with a 1000W microwave on full power for 35 seconds to ≤ 60°C.

After microwaving I wait five minutes to allow further myrosinase hydrolization of glucoraphanin and other glucosinolates into sulforaphane and other healthy compounds. Enhancing sulforaphane content provided evidence that myrosinase hydrolization peaks at one minute after achieving 60°C per the below graphic:

I interpret the above sulforaphane degradation from minutes 1 to 5 to be leaching caused by leaving the broccoli sample immersed in water. I strain water from broccoli sprouts after microwaving – the Time 0 mark of the above graphic – because without leaching water, further hydrolization may increase sulforaphane.

Sulforaphane supplements:

  • Are readily metabolized,
  • Blood plasma levels peak by two hours, and
  • Blood plasma levels dissipate by eight hours.

To the extent a metabolism resulting from my current practices is closer to a sulforaphane supplement profile than a raw broccoli sprouts profile, maybe that leaves the door open to a microwaved broccoli seed dose at lunch time? In any event, there are seeds in each batch that don’t germinate after soaking for 12 hours and rinsing three times a day, and I eat them after microwaving anyway.

See Caution on broccoli seed erucic acid content? if you’re concerned about that.

Are sulforaphane supplements better than microwaved broccoli sprouts?

gettingwell4 4-5 stars Advanced knowledge, Anterior cingulate cortex, Beliefs, Cerebrum, Epigenetics, Glutamate, Hippocampus, Immune system, Limbic system, Lower brain, Memory, Neurochemicals, Stress, Thalamus , , , , ,

Armando asked a good question in Upgrade your brain’s switchboard with broccoli sprouts:

“Is there any way to consume sulphorafane in a supplement form? Rather than have to jump so many hops to consume it from broccoli.”

That blog post referenced a 2017 study, whose sulforaphane amount was:

“100 µmol [17.3 mg] sulforaphane as standardized broccoli sprout extract in the form of 2 gel capsules.”

One answer in A pair of broccoli sprout studies was No:

  • “Plasma and urinary levels of total SFN [sulforaphane] metabolites were ~3–5 times higher in sprout consumers compared to BSE [broccoli sprout extract] consumers.
  • In sprout consumers, plasma concentrations were 2.4-fold higher after consuming the second dose than after the first dose.
  • Calculated SFN bioavailability from broccoli sprouts exceeded 100%.”

That study was from 2015, though. Are better products than broccoli sprout extracts available now?

Image from the US Library of Congress

During Week 5 of Changing an inflammatory phenotype with broccoli sprouts, back in May when I still believed impossible things like we would:

I contacted a distributor of a dried broccoli sprout powder for evidence of their claim:

“Independent assays confirm that EnduraCELL yields more Sulforaphane per gram and per dose than any other broccoli sprout ingredient available! These assays showed that EnduraCell yields around 3.5 times more SULFORAPHANE than the next highest broccoli sprout product.”

I’ve asked three times for the lab assays. They declined each time to provide the data. In correspondence the company founder said:

“Each 700 mg capsules yields around 15mg sulforaphane.”

The company founder has written several reviews, one of which is entitled Sulforaphane and Other Nutrigenomic Nrf2 Activators: Can the Clinician’s Expectation Be Matched by the Reality? In Section 6.5 Sulforaphane it stated:

“By calculation, MYR [myrosinase]-active whole broccoli sprout supplement yielding 1% SFN could deliver 10 mg SFN per gram of powder, corresponding to ~12 grams of fresh broccoli sprouts (dried powder retains ~8% moisture).“

The 2017 study’s dosage of “100 µmol [17.3 mg] sulforaphane as standardized broccoli sprout extract” weighed a gram or less, for a 1.73% sulforaphane yield. A broccoli sprout powder may have a 15 mg / 700 mg = 2.14% sulforaphane yield.

Using calculations from Estimating daily consumption of broccoli sprout compounds and Our model clinical trial for Changing to a youthful phenotype with broccoli sprouts, I eat 131 grams of 3-day-old broccoli sprouts daily. That would be 131 g / 12 = 10.9 grams of a broccoli sprout powder.

The equivalent sulforaphane dosage would be 10.9 g x 21.4 mg per gram = 233.3 mg! That’s obviously too high. What isn’t right?

Subsequent investigation of a distributor’s site found this table:

autism sprout powder

The study referenced for equivalence was Sulforaphane treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Calculations:

  • The 100 µmol sulforaphane amount for 90 kg participants weighed 17.73 mg per https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/sulforaphane.
  • The equivalent broccoli sprout powder sulforaphane yield is 0.01773 / 3.6 g = 0.4925%. That’s 5 mg of sulforaphane per gram of broccoli sprout powder.
  • 0.4925% / 2.14 % = 0.23. Decrementing the above sulforaphane weight gives 233.3 mg x .23 = 54 mg.

The answer to my question What isn’t right? I relied on private correspondence rather than what a vendor publicly disclosed.

I’m not particularly concerned about analytical uncertainties for myself. Whatever the numbers are, microwaving techniques for fresh broccoli sprouts increase them.

I immerse 3-day-old broccoli sprouts in 100 ml distilled water, then microwave them on 1000W full power for 35 seconds to ≤ 60°C (140°F) per Microwave broccoli to increase sulforaphane levels. Worst-case estimates are 52 mg sulforaphane with microwaving.

My answer to Armando’s question would be No for sulforaphane supplements. I’d consider a whole broccoli sprout powder after lab assays were personally verified.