Glutamic acid or glutamate is created by mixing various other amino acids. Glutamine is a non-essential amino acid that is used in the creation of glutamic acid. The body must have glutamic acid to build proteins that are in turn used to create muscle tissue. Glutamic acid is a stimulating neurotransmitter in the brain and central nervous system. Glutamic acid is one of the most common neurotransmitters in the brain.
What It Does
Glutamine and glutamic acid are part of the amino acid chain. These aminos work together to help the body utilize nutrients and build tissue. Glutamatic acid is also used with glucose as fuel for the brain and to enhance overall brain function, according to "Vitamins Diary." Glutamic acid also converts excess ammonia acid in the brain back into glutaine. This also helps in the metabolism of ammonia.
Benefits
Because it has the ability to detoxify ammonia from the brain, glutamate is considered to be beneficial in the treatment of alcoholism and other behavioral disorders. When combined with the other amino acids in the chain, glutamine works to balance the chemicals in the brain and may be useful in the treatment of depression and schizophrenia, according to the "Vitamins Diary." It is also useful in treating epilepsy in children. Glutamic acid may also be used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia and offer support when heart surgery is needed, according to "Caring 4 Cancer." Reports are contradictory and there is little evidence to validate either claim.
Sources
Fish, dairy products, eggs, meat and poultry are excellent sources of glutamic acid. Protein rich foods contain abundant amounts of glutamine and other amino acids. Glutamic acid can also be found in many plants that contain protein, according to the Health Library of the University of Michigan. Glutamic acid supplements can also be purchased to increase the amount of glutamine in the diet. Glutamic acid deficiency is rare, since most foods that contain protein also contain these amino acids.
Contraindications
Glutamic acid rarely causes side effects. People who have liver or kidney problems should avoid consuming large amounts of this amino acid, according to the Health Library of the University of Michigan. It is possible that ingesting large amounts of glutamic acid and other amino acids may cause neurological disorders. Because of the stimulating effects on the brain, it may damage receptors and not allow neurotransmitters to behave as they should.
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