THURSDAY, March 1 (HealthDay News) -- Shark fins contain high levels of a neurotoxin called BMAA, that is linked to neurodegenerative diseases in humans of the like kind as Alzheimer's and Lou Gehrig's indisposition (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), according to a starting a~ study.

The findings suggest that the million who eat shark fin soup and blackleg cartilage pills may be at forcible risk for these diseases, the University of Miami researchers warned.

The scientists tried seven shark species -- blacknose, blacktip, bonnethead, stimulator of the stock-market, great hammerhead, lemon and nurse -- in waters quite through South Florida.

"The concentrations of BMAA in the samples are a lead to for concern, not only in blackleg fin soup, but also in dietary supplements and other forms ingested ~ means of humans," study co-author Deborah Mash, instructor of the University of Miami Brain Endowment Bank, before-mentioned in a university news release.

The renovated study was published Feb. 21 in the journal Marine Drugs.

In a study published in 2009, Mash and her colleagues construct that patients dying of Alzheimer's sickness and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis had unusually ~-reaching levels of BMAA in their brains, up to 256 nanograms per milligram (ng/mg). In similitude, healthy people had only trace amounts or in ~ degree BMAA in their brains.

The newly come study found BMAA levels of betwixt 144 and 1,836 ng/mg in the sharper fins.

Many shark species are up~ the road to extinction because of the interrogation for shark fin soup, the authors afore~. "Because sharks play important roles in maintaining equalizer in the oceans, not only is blackleg fin soup injurious to the soldier environment, but our study suggests that it is to be expected harmful to the people who are consuming them," co-writer Neil Hammerschlag, director of the university's marine conservation program, said in the information release.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine has added about neurodegenerative diseases.

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