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There is a balance to be kept by the body between GABA and glutamate (oversimplification). The former is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and the latter is excit

by manmal 11y ago

There is a balance to be kept by the body between GABA and glutamate (oversimplification). The former is an inhibitory neurotransmitter, and the latter is excitatory. So - it really depends. If your nervous system is overexcited, having glutamate (doesn't matter whether from natural or lab-made sources) might be a bad idea. If you are pretty balanced or have a GABA surplus, you'll be fine. BTW this balance does seem to play a role in autism and ADHD, and suppressing glutamate is considered as an option in this article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25666800 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25666800

stickfigure 11y ago
Current scientific evidence indicates that glutamate does not cross the blood brain barrier. While glutamate is very active in the brain, it does not appear that consumption has any effect.
- kazinator 11y ago
  Something doesn't have to cross the barrier to cause a headache or other effects. A constriction or dilation of the blood vessels in the brain will do.
  - tptacek 11y ago
    What evidence is there that glutamic acid is a vasodilator?
    - kazinator 11y ago
      Just found some pig and rat experiments: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2572176 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2572176 "We examined the effects of topically applied amino acids (glutamate, aspartate, glycine, and taurine) and a synthetic glutamate analogue [N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)] on pial arteriolar tone and cortical surface cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dilator prostanoid concentrations in anesthetized newborn pigs. [...] We conclude that these amino acids are potent dilators of the neonatal cerebral circulation." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9134957 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9134957 "Taken together, these results indicate that glutamate contributes to the dilatory tone of cerebral microvessels under physiologic conditions and that this effect is mediated by NMDA receptors. Glutamatergic vasodilation is dependent on neuronal discharge activity and the neuronal production of NO." Experiment with glutamate infusion in cardiac surgery patients: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724641 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724641 "These data show that an intravenous glutamate infusion after routine CABG surgery significantly improved cardiac haemodynamic performance without direct effects on cardiac substrate metabolism. This suggests that a reduction of the afterload via a peripheral vasodilatory effect is the main mechanism leading to the observed changes in haemodynamics."

by manmal 11y ago

stickfigure 11y ago

Current scientific evidence indicates that glutamate does not cross the blood brain barrier. While glutamate is very active in the brain, it does not appear that consumption has any effect.

kazinator 11y ago
Something doesn't have to cross the barrier to cause a headache or other effects. A constriction or dilation of the blood vessels in the brain will do.
- tptacek 11y ago
  What evidence is there that glutamic acid is a vasodilator?
  - kazinator 11y ago
    Just found some pig and rat experiments: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2572176 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2572176 "We examined the effects of topically applied amino acids (glutamate, aspartate, glycine, and taurine) and a synthetic glutamate analogue [N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)] on pial arteriolar tone and cortical surface cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) dilator prostanoid concentrations in anesthetized newborn pigs. [...] We conclude that these amino acids are potent dilators of the neonatal cerebral circulation." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9134957 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9134957 "Taken together, these results indicate that glutamate contributes to the dilatory tone of cerebral microvessels under physiologic conditions and that this effect is mediated by NMDA receptors. Glutamatergic vasodilation is dependent on neuronal discharge activity and the neuronal production of NO." Experiment with glutamate infusion in cardiac surgery patients: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724641 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11724641 "These data show that an intravenous glutamate infusion after routine CABG surgery significantly improved cardiac haemodynamic performance without direct effects on cardiac substrate metabolism. This suggests that a reduction of the afterload via a peripheral vasodilatory effect is the main mechanism leading to the observed changes in haemodynamics."