Re: To Patty: L-glutamine

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Shirley, The info on glutamine all over the web tends to speak about how safe it is, so I would trust that in small amounts it may be okay. It is when you continue taking it in large doses on an empty stomach over a period of time that I would begin to get concerned. It's by-product is an excitotoxin. Here is the link for that article: http://www.newtreatments.org/loadlocal.php?hid=974 Here's the question of the day... Can too much glutamine cause disease? "Cause" may be too strong a word. The words precipitate or aggravate might however be appropriate. It is very possible that excess glutamate from glutamine can precipitate and/or aggravate many neurodegenerative diseases, including the disease

of ordinary senility. Senile Dementia Some neuroscientists believe the symptoms of ordinary senility are "caused" by accumulations of excess glutamate, GABA and ammonia in the brain, which result from the gradual age-related degeneration of the brain's ability to regulate these chemicals properly. "If the glia are dysfunctional due to reduced aerobic metabolism, or the release and/or activity of the glial cell glutamine synthase is inhibited in any way (free radical damage, toxins, certain drugs), not only glutamate, but GABA as well might accumulate in excess, possibly causing lethargy and cognitive dysfunction. It has been suggested that this too is one of the phenomena we see in the aging brain. On the one hand, glutamate excitotoxicity damages or destroys some neurons, leading to deficiencies in memory and learning; on the other hand, excess of GABA can lead to lethargy. At the same time, excess

ammonia, not detoxified through sufficient glutamine synthesis by the glia, leads to further neural damage." -Glutamine: The 'Essential' Non Essential Amino Acid, Life Extension Magazine, Sept 99 Glutamine acts in the brain as a precursor to glutamate, GABA and ammonia. As above, these are three chemicals which in excess are thought to cause symptoms of senility (lethargy and cognitive dysfunction). It is therefore at least possible if not likely that pushing unnaturally high amounts of glutamine into the aging brain on a daily basis can promote excess production of one or more of these chemicals and precipitate or aggravate the symptoms of senility. The addition of precursors tends to promote production of metabolites and experimental

evidence suggests that this is true for the production of glutamate from glutamine in brain tissue. From the point of view of the nervous system, it appears glutamine GH supplementation may actually add fuel to the fire of aging. In older people it might cause a temporary increase in alertness but at a very dear price. Shirley <toshirl20022002@...> wrote: Hi Patty,I have recently been taking L-glutamine and several other amino acids before and after gym weight-lighting workouts to prevent the

catabolization of muscles...some of the muscle magazines recommend it for this use...So, I would be interested in you posting the article you have on its dangers.Love, Shirley

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