Re: Glutamate & GAPS diet questions - article to share

[Guest guest]

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2004/05/01/glutamine.aspx

Is Glutamine Supplementation Helpful or Harmful?

Posted by: Dr. Mercola

May 01 2004 | 19,069 views

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

Glutamine is an amino acid that makes up the majority of our skeletal muscle.

There is some controversy over whether oral glutamine supplementation is toxic

or helpful to healthy people. In a past article, Dr. Crayhon expressed

the view of many natural medicine experts, " After reviewing the literature, I am

unconvinced that high-dose oral glutamine supplementation is toxic to neurons in

healthy persons. "

However, Dr. Blaylock, a board-certified neurosurgeon and author of the

highly recommended Excitotoxins: The Taste that Kills wrote in to me with

another viewpoint and his response is below.

By L. Blaylock, M.D.

Advanced Nutritional Concepts, LLC.

Dr. Crayhon posted comments on this site indicating that I was terribly

mistaken in my caution concerning the use of glutamine and that he had consulted

several " cell biologists " who were also concerned with my statements on

glutamine safety. In fact it was stated that I apparently did not understand

that glutamine was not an excitotoxin and was not converted into an excitotoxin.

Of course, I never stated glutamine was an excitotoxin, but I do state that it

is converted into the excitotoxin glutamate within neurons. Numerous recent

studies as well as Siegel's Basic Neurochemistry textbook emphatically state

that the major source of glutamate is from glutamine in the brain. Normally,

when the brain finishes using glutamate for chemical communication between brain

cells at the synapse the glutamate is taken up by surrounding glial cells and

changed by the enzyme glutamine synthease into glutamine, where it is stored.

The Problem With Excitotoxins

The glutamine is then transported to the neuron and by the enzyme glutaminase,

it is converted to glutamate--the potential excitotoxin. I say potential because

unless it accumulates outside the brain cell it is harmless.

This is the major source of glutamate within the brain. Excitotoxins are usually

amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids cause

particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point they will

quickly die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and connecting

fibers. Food-borne excitotoxins include such additives as MSG, aspartame,

hydrolyzed protein and soy protein extract.

In two recent studies it was found that the amount of glutamine in the brain

could predict the brain damage seen both in pediatric brain injuries and brain

damage secondary to seizures. Adding large amounts of glutamine to the diet

increases significantly brain levels of glutamine and, hence, glutamate. Another

study found that by adding glutamine to the diet of animals exposed to another

powerful excitotoxin called quinolinic acid, brain cell damage was increased

significantly. Quinolinic acid is known to accumulate in the brain in most cases

of viral brain infection as seen with HIV dementia and viral encephalitis.

Glutamine and Liver Toxicity

Individuals with liver toxicity tend to accumulate ammonia in their blood and

brain. Until recently, it was assumed that it was the ammonia that caused liver

disease-associated brain injury and that glutamine was protective.

Newer studies indicate that actually it is the glutamine that is causing the

brain's injury. Increasing glutamine in the diet would significantly aggravate

this damage.

Free Radicals in the Brain

Glutamine accumulation has also been found in Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's

disease and high levels of brain glutamine have been associated with a worse

prognosis in Lou Gehrig's disease. Likewise, recent studies have shown that high

brain glutamine levels increase brain levels of free radicals and impair the

ability of brain mitochondria to produce energy. When the brain produces low

energy, excitotoxins, such as glutamate, become even more toxic. It has been

shown that the reason for glutamine toxicity under these conditions is because

it is converted to the excitotoxin--glutamate.

Glutamine and Multiple Sclerosis

Of particular concern is the finding that people with multiple sclerosis have

increased levels of the enzyme glutaminase (the enzyme that converts glutamine

into glutamate) in areas of nerve fiber damage. High levels of glutamine in the

diet would increase glutamate levels near these injured areas magnifying the

damage. It has been shown that excitotoxicity plays a major role in multiple

sclerosis by destroying the cells (oligodendrocytes) that produce myelin.

Glutamine and Pregnant Women

Another area of concern would be pregnant women. Glutamine passes through the

placenta and may actually be concentrated in the baby's blood, producing very

high levels. Glutamate plays a major role in the development of the baby's

brain. Excess glutamate has been shown to cause significant impairment of brain

development in babies and can lead to mental retardation.

When to Use Glutamine

The major use for high-dose glutamine would be to repair gastrointestinal

injury. In such cases, I would recommend short-term use only. Those with a

history of the following conditions should avoid glutamine, even for short-term

use:

•Stroke

•Neurodegenerative disease

•Pregnancy

•Malignancy

•Recent vaccinations

•ADHD

•Hypoglycemia

•Autism

•Multiple sclerosis

•Other neurological disorders

Glutamine has recently been shown to produce extreme hypoglycemia, even more so

than leucine, which is known to produce fatal hypoglycemia in infants.

The reason Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is not seen with glutamine challenge is

that the glutamate receptors in the lungs and esophagus are stimulated by

glutamate, not glutamine. The glutamine must be converted first and this occurs

primarily in the brain.

The only safe situation for glutamine use is in the vigorous athlete. Glutamine

is used as a muscle fuel, so that vigorous exercise will consume most of the

glutamine before it can accumulate in the brain. I would still avoid long-term

use in high doses. I would caution readers to avoid excess glutamine, especially

in the above named conditions and situations.

[Guest guest]

I used to take tons of l-glutamine as I have microscopic colitis. (Maybe it

contributed to MS?????). I have now stopped. I trust Dr. Blaylock and others

who have spoken to this.

Beverly

>

> By L. Blaylock, M.D.

> Advanced Nutritional Concepts, LLC.

>

> Dr. Crayhon posted comments on this site indicating that I was terribly

mistaken in my caution concerning the use of glutamine and that he had consulted

several " cell biologists " who were also concerned with my statements on

glutamine safety. In fact it was stated that I apparently did not understand

that glutamine was not an excitotoxin and was not converted into an excitotoxin.

>

> Of course, I never stated glutamine was an excitotoxin, but I do state that it

is converted into the excitotoxin glutamate within neurons. Numerous recent

studies as well as Siegel's Basic Neurochemistry textbook emphatically state

that the major source of glutamate is from glutamine in the brain. Normally,

when the brain finishes using glutamate for chemical communication between brain

cells at the synapse the glutamate is taken up by surrounding glial cells and

changed by the enzyme glutamine synthease into glutamine, where it is stored.

>

> The Problem With Excitotoxins

>

>

> The glutamine is then transported to the neuron and by the enzyme glutaminase,

it is converted to glutamate--the potential excitotoxin. I say potential because

unless it accumulates outside the brain cell it is harmless.

>

> This is the major source of glutamate within the brain. Excitotoxins are

usually amino acids, such as glutamate and aspartate. These special amino acids

cause particular brain cells to become excessively excited, to the point they

will quickly die. Excitotoxins can also cause a loss of brain synapses and

connecting fibers. Food-borne excitotoxins include such additives as MSG,

aspartame, hydrolyzed protein and soy protein extract.

>

> In two recent studies it was found that the amount of glutamine in the brain

could predict the brain damage seen both in pediatric brain injuries and brain

damage secondary to seizures. Adding large amounts of glutamine to the diet

increases significantly brain levels of glutamine and, hence, glutamate. Another

study found that by adding glutamine to the diet of animals exposed to another

powerful excitotoxin called quinolinic acid, brain cell damage was increased

significantly. Quinolinic acid is known to accumulate in the brain in most cases

of viral brain infection as seen with HIV dementia and viral encephalitis.

>

> Glutamine and Liver Toxicity

>

>

> Individuals with liver toxicity tend to accumulate ammonia in their blood and

brain. Until recently, it was assumed that it was the ammonia that caused liver

disease-associated brain injury and that glutamine was protective.

>

> Newer studies indicate that actually it is the glutamine that is causing the

brain's injury. Increasing glutamine in the diet would significantly aggravate

this damage.

>

> Free Radicals in the Brain

>

>

> Glutamine accumulation has also been found in Alzheimer's disease,

Huntington's disease and high levels of brain glutamine have been associated

with a worse prognosis in Lou Gehrig's disease. Likewise, recent studies have

shown that high brain glutamine levels increase brain levels of free radicals

and impair the ability of brain mitochondria to produce energy. When the brain

produces low energy, excitotoxins, such as glutamate, become even more toxic. It

has been shown that the reason for glutamine toxicity under these conditions is

because it is converted to the excitotoxin--glutamate.

>

> Glutamine and Multiple Sclerosis

>

>

> Of particular concern is the finding that people with multiple sclerosis have

increased levels of the enzyme glutaminase (the enzyme that converts glutamine

into glutamate) in areas of nerve fiber damage. High levels of glutamine in the

diet would increase glutamate levels near these injured areas magnifying the

damage. It has been shown that excitotoxicity plays a major role in multiple

sclerosis by destroying the cells (oligodendrocytes) that produce myelin.

>

> Glutamine and Pregnant Women

>

>

> Another area of concern would be pregnant women. Glutamine passes through the

placenta and may actually be concentrated in the baby's blood, producing very

high levels. Glutamate plays a major role in the development of the baby's

brain. Excess glutamate has been shown to cause significant impairment of brain

development in babies and can lead to mental retardation.

>

> When to Use Glutamine

>

>

> The major use for high-dose glutamine would be to repair gastrointestinal

injury. In such cases, I would recommend short-term use only. Those with a

history of the following conditions should avoid glutamine, even for short-term

use:

>

> •Stroke

> •Neurodegenerative disease

> •Pregnancy

> •Malignancy

> •Recent vaccinations

> •ADHD

> •Hypoglycemia

> •Autism

> •Multiple sclerosis

> •Other neurological disorders

>

> Glutamine has recently been shown to produce extreme hypoglycemia, even more

so than leucine, which is known to produce fatal hypoglycemia in infants.

>

> The reason Chinese Restaurant Syndrome is not seen with glutamine challenge is

that the glutamate receptors in the lungs and esophagus are stimulated by

glutamate, not glutamine. The glutamine must be converted first and this occurs

primarily in the brain.

>

> The only safe situation for glutamine use is in the vigorous athlete.

Glutamine is used as a muscle fuel, so that vigorous exercise will consume most

of the glutamine before it can accumulate in the brain. I would still avoid

long-term use in high doses. I would caution readers to avoid excess glutamine,

especially in the above named conditions and situations.

>

[Guest guest]

They've developed a new test to measure the amount of glutamate in the brain:

Beverly

http://news.ucsf.edu/releases/glutamate-identified-as-predictor-of-disease-progr\

ession-in-multiple-sclero/