Glutamate and ADHD/OCD/etc.

[catatonic]

I just ran across an interesting article in Neuropsychopharmacology on elevated glutamate levels in people with OCD. Glutamate has long been known as a neurotoxin, and its role in causing cell death is well-documented, and there's long been speculation that glutamate may play a role in a variety of neurological disorders. After reading the article, it seemed like a good time to bring up glutamate again!

www.nature.com/npp/journal/v30/n9/abs/1300733a.html

Neuropsychiatry published a similar study last winter associating elevated glutamate levels with ADHD. High glutamate is also linked to manic episodes in bipolar disorder. A physician can order a lab test to detect elevated glutamate -- only requires a urine specimen.

Strategies to reduce glutamate would include:
-- avoid any foods containing MSG
-- avoid any supplements containing glutamate or glutamine
-- increase serotonin (5-HTP is good for this)
-- take zinc supplements
-- take an NSAID every day (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug)...like ibuprofen (found in Motrin or Advil), naproxen (Aleve), or aspirin (ONLY if your child is over 13)
www.stanford.edu/group/hopes/treatmts/antinflm/i4.html
-- try theanine or taurine (amino acids)

[Kaiti]

Thanks Catatonic, that's an interesting abstract.

What about the non-inflammatory drug? How does that have an effect?

[catatonic]

The article linked above has all the details, but if you don't want to wade through all the technical lingo and abbreviations, etc., the most relevant part which discusses a recent research study, says:

a mixture of nerve cells and glial cells were divided into three groups, and each group was exposed to one of the three drugs. A separate group of nerve cell-glial cell mixture was not exposed to any drug at all, and was used as a means of comparison to evaluate the effects of the drugs. Glutamate was later added to all four groups of nerve cells. Exposure to glutamate resulted in a significant reduction in the number of nerve cells but cells treated with any one of the three NSAIDs showed decreased cell death compared to the untreated group.

[Kaiti]

opps, Ijust read the abstract, did not see wherethe study was

Thanks Cat.

Back to reading

[catatonic]

Well, it's not the most exciting reading in the world, is it? The part about cell death is cool, but when you've got to plow through a discussion of COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors to get to it... I just like to post sources so no one has to take my word for anything.

[Kaiti]

Hey, it saves you typing stuff out doesn't it

[sportsmom]

Ok I am confused~~please help
Is this related to Glucosamine? I give the boys glucosamine with MSM to strengthen their bones. I hope this is ok.

[catatonic]

They're not even kissing cousins. Glucosamine is a sugar...does lots of useful things in the body, not much in the brain. The only real relationship between them is that glutamate is required for the body to synthesize its own supply of glucosamine. Glucosamine actually won't do anything for your bones...it's the cartilage cushioning the joints that benefit from it. Judging from the nature of my sons' sports injuries -- knees and ankles -- strong cartilege can be pretty darn important. Both glucosamine and msm are very safe.

[sportsmom]

Judging from the nature of my sons' sports injuries -- knees and ankles -- strong cartilege can be pretty darn important. Both glucosamine and msm are very safe.

Whew~~Thanks Catatonic


That is the same reason I give it to my boys. We are trying to avoid broken/sprained wrist or fingers this year for football. I hope it works!!!

[catatonic]

My mother takes glucosamine for her osteo arthritis. It's helped her regain the suppleness in her fingers so that she's playing the piano again, even in church, when she wasn't able to play for several years.