Posted by JLx on September 19, 2003, at 11:10:23
In reply to Re: Female Hormones/Excitotoxins/Amino acids » JLx, posted by Larry Hoover on September 19, 2003, at 9:43:12
> > > You know, that is why I'm never sure of "amino acid chelates"..I have no idea WHICH amino acid, and I have not been able to find out. I have sensitivites to MSG, so I guess glumate is out for me too? Magnesium glutamate does sound bad...I wonder if that is what you could get if you bought magnesium amino acid chelate?
>
> Unfortunately, if the label doesn't say, there's no way to know.That was tealady's comment, btw.
>[JL]I'm confused about the difference between glutaMINE, glutamatic acid and glutamates....about excitotoxins and excitatory neurotransmitters in general.
> [Larry] Glutamine is an amino acid with an added side chain that terminates in an amine group. So, it's a di-amino acid. Glutamic acid is an amino acid with an added side chain that terminates in an acid group. So, it's an amino di-acid.Ha! That clarifies things! ;)
Here's my lack of understanding....excitatory neurotransmitters are normal and necessary, are they not? Whereas certain things, such as calcium-in-excess-to-magnesium or glutamates, especially man-made one such as MSG, can be excitotoxins -- something to avoid. If you know you need to avoide excitotoxins -- and do I assume that by my reaction to glutamine? -- what does that mean wrt to the other excitatory neurotransmitters? Since I had such an obvious reaction to glutamine, does that mean I should avoid tyrosine and phenylalanine as well? (Lack of motivation, caring and energy -- not functioning/doing -- is my biggest problem associated with depression.)
I want to experiment with amino acids, which I've done in the past, but now I'm thinking I might have different reactions because of the magnesium supplementation. I've taken glutamine in the past, for instance, and don't recall that it did anything at all. I've taken tyrosine in the past too, and I had the same quick reaction with it that I had with Wellbutrin -- irritability to the point of meanness, like I wanted to kick my dog when she got on my nerves.
I just stumbled across this site, http://www.neuroreplete.com/Site_Map.htm from a physician's site who apparently uses their products for his patients. It's poorly written and who knows who these people are, but this made sense to me:
"Not only does unbalanced or unopposed use of amino acids lead to decreased group performance it also causes depletion of neurotransmitters of the other system. Research has also proved that improperly balanced use of amino acids of the catecholamine and serotonin systems is associated with increased side effects." http://www.neuroreplete.com/bal.htm
About 5-HTP alone, they say:
"10% to 15% of the patients get good results and relief of symptoms. Ten percent to fifteen percent of patients get some relief and about two thirds of the patients obtain no relief. ... L-tyrosine we have found that 3,000 mg per day with 300 mg per day of 5-HTP is an ideal ratio for treatment and has minimal side effects if used properly." http://www.neuroreplete.com/Phenylalanine%20does%20not%20work%20nearly%20as%20well.htm
Those seem like pretty high doses to me. I see they use L-tyrosine over L-Phenylaline, which is the opposite of your own thinking, isn't it? I happen to have some L-tyrosine already, so I think I may try it with 5-HTP as I've not tried any sort of combo before with natural/amino products. Is it advisable to actually take the two things TOGETHER, or just on the same day? I also have some SAM-e I think I will use up, which should also be synergistic/ok to take, right?
I hope you don't mind all the questions. Like many others here, I respect your opinion. :)
poster:JLx
thread:261480
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20030903/msgs/261614.html