People like it or loathe it, but now Marmite is getting attention for other reasons. Researchers at the University of York have discovered a potential link between eating the breakfast staple and brain activity, says a Net Doctor report.
The researchers believe the yeast extract spread can alter the fine electrical activity in the brain for the better. Participants who consumed a teaspoon of Marmite every day for a month demonstrated a substantial reduction of around 30% in their brain's response to visual stimuli, compared to a control group of people who ate peanut butter.
The team of researchers believe that this could be due to Marmite's high concentration of vitamin B12 – a vitamin that plays a key role in energy production, DNA synthesis and optimal function of the nervous system and helps the body form healthy red blood cells. It is thought that vitamin B12 may increase levels of a neurotransmitter (known as GABA) in the brain.
GABA acts like a regulator in the brain, by 'turning down the volume' of neural responses and effectively promoting a delicate balance of activity needed for a healthy brain. The study is significant because it's the first to show diet may intervene in GABA levels. These imbalances are associated with a variety of neurological disorders.
Anika Smith, PhD student in York's department of psychology and first author of the study, said that the effects of Marmite consumption took around eight weeks to wear off after participants stopped the study, suggesting that dietary changes could potentially have long-term effects on brain function.
She explains: "This is a really promising first example of how dietary interventions can alter cortical processes, and a great starting point for exploring whether a more refined version of this technique could have some medical or therapeutic applications in the future. Of course, further research is needed to confirm and investigate this, but the study is an excellent basis for this."
Dr Daniel Baker, lecturer in the department of psychology and senior author of the paper, highlights that, although GABA is involved in various diseases, no therapeutic recommendations can be made based on the results. "Individuals with a medical condition should always seek treatment from their GP," he added.
On whether this study could pave the way for the prevention of dementia, Dr Laura Phipps of Alzheimer's Research UK says: "Marmite contains high levels of vitamin B12, and while deficiency in this vitamin can cause memory problems, this study does not tell us whether Marmite could be beneficial for our memory or affect the onset of dementia. The interesting outcome of this study of young people is the suggestion that particular foods may influence brain activity but we don't know if or how this could translate into long-term benefits against particular brain diseases."
Abstract
The balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters in the brain affects both neural responses and behaviour in humans and animals. Here we investigated whether dietary intervention aimed at increasing levels of the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) can influence neural responses to basic sensory stimuli. Using a steady-state electroencephalography (EEG) paradigm, we found that the neural response to visual patterns was reduced in individuals who consumed a yeast extract product rich in substances associated with the production of GABA (glutamate and B vitamins), but not in a control group who consumed a placebo substance (n = 14 per group). This demonstrates that the balance of excitation and inhibition in the brain can be influenced by dietary interventions, suggesting possible clinical benefits in conditions (e.g. epilepsy) where inhibition is abnormal.
Authors
Anika K Smith, Alex R Wade, Kirsty EH Penkman, Daniel H Baker
[link url="http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/healthy-living/mental-health/news/a27968/marmite-affects-your-brain-function-suggests-study/"]Net Doctor report[/link]
[link url="http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0269881117699613"]Journal of Psychopharmacology abstract[/link]