Home :: Glutamic Acid

Glutamic Acid - Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms And Food Sources

What is Glutamic Acid ?

Glutamic acid, a non-essential amino acid and is synthesized from a number of amino acids including ornithine and arginine. It helps with the transportation of potassium across the blood-brain barrier, although itself does not pass this barrier that easily.

Uses and Benefits of Glutamic Acid

Glutamic amino acid is important in the metabolism of sugars and fats, and aids in the transportation of potassium mto the spinal fluid and across the blood-brain barrier. Although it does not pass the blood-brain barrier as readily as glutamine does, it is found at high levels in the blood and may infiltrate the brain in small amounts. The brain can use glutamic acid as fuel. Glutamic acid can detoxify ammonia by picking up nitrogen atoms, in the process creating another amino acid, glutamine. The conversion of glutamic acid into glutamine is the only means by which ammonia in the brain can be detoxified.

Glutamic acid helps to correct personality disorders and is useful in treating childhood behavioral disorders. It is used in the treatment of epilepsy, mental retardation, muscular dystrophy, ulcers, and hypoglycemic coma, a complication of insulin treatment for diabetes. It is a component of folate (folic acid), a B vitamin that helps the body break down amino acids. Because one of its salts is monosodium glutamate (MSG), glutamic acid should be avoided by anyone who is allergic to MSG.

Deficiency Symptoms of Glutamic Acid

Although the deficiency symptoms of Glutamic Acid is unknow but some may notice are dullness of brain, insomina.

Recommended Dosage of Glutamic Acid

Unknown.

Rich Food Sources of Glutamic Acid

Sources of glutamic acid include high-protein foods, such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products . Some protein-rich plant foods also supply glutamic acid.

Caution

High dosages of glutamic acid may include symptoms such as headaches and neurological problems.