Glutamic Acid

An Amino Acid

Description:

Glutamic acid is a nonessential amino acid that is converted into glutamine or gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Glutamic acid, the 2nd most abundant amino acid in the brain, is found in the hippocampus, the cranial nerves and other areas. It can be formed from aspartic acid, arginine, ornithine, proline or alpha-ketoglutarate.

Plants/Foods:

• Avocado
• Cheese
• Chicken
• Chocolate
• Cottage cheese
• Duck
• Egg
• Granola
• Oat flakes
• Pork
• Ricotta
• Turkey
• Wheat germ
• Whole milk
• Wild game
• Yogurt

Physiologic Functions:

• Can be utilized to make glutathione, ketoglutamate, pyrroles, histidine, glutamine and gamma-aminobutyric acid
• Involved in the photoreceptor transmission in the retina
• Mega doses raise IQ
• Required for the synthesis of folic acid
• Stimulant/excitatory neurotransmitter

Clinical Indications:

• Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)

Signs and Symptoms of Deficiency:

• None

Causes of Deficiencies:

• None have been found because it can be synthesized many different ways

Contraindications:

• MSG allergy

Toxicity and Side Effects:

• Neurotoxicity could occur in extremely large doses
• 140 gm. for the average male adult could product symptoms of toxicity:
  
  Nausea
  Vomiting

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).