Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases III: Manganese,

neurological diseases, and associated pathologies

Research Scientist and Consultant, Deerfield, NH 03037, 1Spoken Language Systems Group, Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, MIT,

Cambridge MA 02139, USA

E‑mail: Anthony Samsel ‑ anthonysamsel@acoustictracks.net; *Stephanie Seneff ‑ seneff@csail.mit.edu

*Corresponding author

 Received: 22 September 14 Accepted: 21 January 15 Published: 24 March 15


 

Abstract

 

 

Manganese (Mn) is an often overlooked but important nutrient, required in small

amounts for multiple essential functions in the body. A recent study on cows fed

 

genetically modified Roundup®‑Ready feed revealed a severe depletion of serum

Mn. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup®, has also been shown to severely

 

 

deplete Mn levels in plants. Here, we investigate the impact of Mn on physiology,

and its association with gut dysbiosis as well as neuropathologies such as autism,

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), depression, anxiety syndrome, Parkinson’s disease (PD),

and prion diseases. Glutamate overexpression in the brain in association with

 

autism, AD, and other neurological diseases can be explained by Mn deficiency.

 

Mn superoxide dismutase protects mitochondria from oxidative damage, and

mitochondrial dysfunction is a key feature of autism and Alzheimer’s. Chondroitin

 

sulfate synthesis depends on Mn, and its deficiency leads to osteoporosis and

 

osteomalacia. Lactobacillus, depleted in autism, depend critically on Mn for

antioxidant protection. Lactobacillus probiotics can treat anxiety, which is a

 

comorbidity of autism and chronic fatigue syndrome. Reduced gut Lactobacillus

 

leads to overgrowth of the pathogen, Salmonella, which is resistant to glyphosate

toxicity, and Mn plays a role here as well. Sperm motility depends on Mn, and

this may partially explain increased rates of infertility and birth defects. We further

reason that, under conditions of adequate Mn in the diet, glyphosate, through its

disruption of bile acid homeostasis, ironically promotes toxic accumulation of Mn

in the brainstem, leading to conditions such as PD and prion diseases.

 

Key Words: Autism, cholestasis, glyphosate, manganese, Parkinson’s disease

 

 

Conclusion

 

 

Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide on the

planet, in part because of its perceived low toxicity to

humans. In this paper, we propose that glyphosate’s

chelation of Mn, working together with other known

effects of glyphosate such as CYP enzyme suppression

and depletion of derivatives of the shikimate pathway

in microorganisms, may explain the recent increase in

incidence of multiple neurological diseases and other

pathologies. We have shown that glyphosate’s disruption

of Mn homeostasis can lead to extreme sensitivity to

variations in Mn bioavailability: While Mn deficiency in

the blood leads to impairment of several Mn dependent

enzymes, in contrast, excess Mn readily accumulates in

the liver and in the brainstem due to the liver’s impaired

ability to export it in the bile acids. This pathology

can lead to liver damage and PD. Mn depletion in the

gut due to chelation by glyphosate selectively affects

Lactobacillus, leading to increased anxiety via the gut–

brain access. Both low Lactobacillus levels in the gut

and anxiety syndrome are known features of autism,

and Lactobacillus probiotic treatments have been shown

to alleviate anxiety. Increased incidence of Salmonella

poisoning can also be attributed to glyphosate,

through its impairment of bile acid synthesis. Low Mn

bioavailability from the blood supply to the brain leads to

impaired function of glutamine synthase and a build‑up

of glutamate and ammonia in the brain, both of which

are neurotoxic. Excess brain glutamate and ammonia are

associated with many neurological diseases. At the same

time, impaired function of Mn‑SOD in the mitochondria

results in mitochondrial damage, also a hallmark of many

neurological diseases. Mn deficiency can account for poor

sperm motility and therefore low fertilization rates, as well

as poor bone development leading to osteoporosis and

osteomalacia. Sea star wasting syndrome and the collapse

of coral reefs may in fact be an ecological consequence

of the environmental pervasiveness of the herbicide.

Many diseases and conditions are currently on the rise

in step with glyphosate usage in agriculture, particularly

on GM crops of corn and soy. These include autism, AD,

PD, anxiety disorder, osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel

disease, renal lithiasis, osteomalacia, cholestasis, thyroid

dysfunction, and infertility. All of these conditions can

be substantially explained by the dysregulation of Mn

utilization in the body due to glyphosate.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was funded in part by Quanta Computers, Taipei,

Taiwan, under the auspices of the Qmulus Project. The authors

thank Dr. Nancy Swanson for providing the plots showing

correlations over time of multiple diseases and conditions with

glyphosate usage on corn and soy in the US.