L-glutamic acid, also known as glutamic acid, is one of the many components of proteins. Like its fellow amino acid glutamate, it is produced naturally by the body; however, it is a different type of amino acid. While many people take glutamine supplements, L-glutamic acid is produced naturally by the body in amounts adequate for most people. It also has some surprising effects on both the brain and the environment.
Contents
Uses
Dietary supplement
While it is rarely necessary to supplement l-glutamic acid, Providence Health reports that those who are deficient in protein may require supplementation. However, it is not meant to be taken by everyone. L-glutamic acid stimulates the brain’s glutamate receptors. Because there may be a link between this stimulation in the brain and a few types of neurological conditions, such as epilepsy, you should not take the supplement if you have any nervous system disorders. In addition, you should also avoid L-glutamic acid if you have kidney or liver disease.
Environmental use
You wouldn’t think that a dietary supplement could be used as a pesticide, but this is exactly the case with L-glutamic acid. In fact, it has been on the market as a natural pesticide since early 1998, per the United States Department of Environmental Protection. It can be used on ornamental plants as well as those used for foods, such as fruit trees and other crops. Because it is a natural part of most people’s bodies, it is considered safe for mammals and has little impact on the environment. It is generally designed for commercial use.
Benefits
Muscular Dystrophy
Glutamic acid may prove beneficial in the treatment of muscular dystrophy. A study performed at the DNA Laboratory at Guy’s Hospital in London showed that a deficiency of glutamic acid was found in the phenotype of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. The introduction of glutamic acid may reverse the defiency and promote a treatment for this disorder.
Schizophrenia
Glutamic acid may also be an effective treatment for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. A study performed at the Psychiatric Institute at the University of Illinois-Chicago revealed in a post mortem study that schizophrenics have a decreased level of glutamic acid. Introduction of glutamic acid therapy in order to reverse the deficiency may offer an effective therapy for this disorder.
Parkinson’s Disease
Individuals who suffer from Parkinson’s disease are also deficient in glutamic acid. Research performed by the Department of Anatomy and Physiology at Boston University School of Medicine confirmed that individuals with Parkinson’s disease have a significantly lower glutamic acid levels than the control patients involved with the study. Glutamic acid therapy could be an effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease by regulating glutamic acid levels in the brain and reducing the effects of Parkinson’s disease.
IQ for Mentally Challenged Individuals
Glutamic acid may also help mentally challenged individuals function at a higher level. According to the British Journal of Psychiatry, individuals with greatly reduced intelligence quotas were treated with glutamic acid for a period of 10 months. The results of the study showed that over the 10-month period, 50 percent of the individuals treated with glutamic acid improved their intelligence quota by eight to 11 points opposed to no change in the group not treated with glutamic acid.
Cautions
No Problems for Most People
L-glutamic acid does not cause side effects for “the vast majority of people,” says Orthomolecular.org; however, people with kidney or liver disease or those with neurological diseases, including ALS — Lou Gehrig’s disease — and epilepsy, should not take glutamic acid without consulting a physician. According to a 2010 article in “Neuron Glia Biology,” people who cannot metabolize glutamic acid properly can develop problems associated with a number of neurological conditions, including epilepsy.
Interactions
None are recorded.
Other names
Glutamic acid (abbreviated as Glu or E; encoded by the codons GAA or GAG)
References
Source: LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/481042-what-is-l-glutamic-acid/
LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/320338-glutamic-acid-benefits/
LiveStrong, http://www.livestrong.com/article/271301-side-effects-of-glutamic-acid/
Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glutamic_acid