Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
I sure wish I had a science background. Increasingly, I read that many people (and I would be among them) have their RLS symptoms triggered by high glutamate foods (think Monosodium glutamate -MSG -in its many forms). A few days, the RLS Foundation had a webinar by a gastroenterologist about the possible link between SIBO (Small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and RLS. One of his recommendations was taking L-Glutamine. Are glutamate and glutamine the same animal? Apologizing in advance for my ignorance!
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Re: Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
No, glutamate and glutamine are not the same thing. But explaining the difference requires a rudimentary understanding of chemistry
Both are amino acids, but glutamine as an amine group (-N-H2) at the location where glutamate as a hydroxy group (-OH). Glutamate is similar to glutamic acid with an H+ removed.
And I know that this is too much information, but the L in L-glutamine indicates the orientation of the structure of the molecule. There is a compound designated R-glutamine that is the mirror image of L-glutamine. All living organisms are made up and utilize amino acids that with the L- orientation. Therefore R-glutamine is not something that occurs in nature and must be formulated in the lab.
Both are amino acids, but glutamine as an amine group (-N-H2) at the location where glutamate as a hydroxy group (-OH). Glutamate is similar to glutamic acid with an H+ removed.
And I know that this is too much information, but the L in L-glutamine indicates the orientation of the structure of the molecule. There is a compound designated R-glutamine that is the mirror image of L-glutamine. All living organisms are made up and utilize amino acids that with the L- orientation. Therefore R-glutamine is not something that occurs in nature and must be formulated in the lab.
Steve
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
Re: Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
Thank you for this reply! So, if I understand you correctly, L-glutamine would not aggravate RLS.
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Re: Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
I can't say, but my guess is that it would not. Glutamine is a necessary amino acid that you need in your diet, so supplementing probably wouldn't be an issue. But I am not a doctor nor have I tried taking a glutamine supplement.
Steve
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/a ... 0/fulltext
Opinions presented by Discussion Board Moderators are personal in nature and do not, in any way, represent the opinion of the RLS Foundation, and are not medical advice.
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Re: Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
I'm not a doctor either, but I have taken glutamine for a couple of months as part of a leaky gut treatment. This was roughly at the time when I managed to lower my medication by a bit (30mg oxycodone to 25mg a day) -- I wouldn't attribute it to the glutamine alone, as I did several things at the time, but it certainly didn't aggrevate my RLS issues.
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Re: Glutamate vs. L-Glutamine
Higher levels of glutamate in the brain have been linked to worse WED/RLS. Glutamine is converted to glutamate in the body. I am not sure but iirc it's converted only when more glutamate is needed. So ingesting glutamine shouldn't increase WED/RLS symptoms by increasing gluatmate. (And moreover, it's not necessarily true that an increase of glutamate somewhere in the body means it is increased in teh brain.)
That said, I used a glutamine supplement in the evenings for leaky gut and it seemed to make my symptoms worse, so I switched to take it in the mornings. It seemed to be ok that way. But the disease symptoms are so variable, I can't be sure if the glutamine in the evening actually was the cause of the worsened symptoms./
That said, I used a glutamine supplement in the evenings for leaky gut and it seemed to make my symptoms worse, so I switched to take it in the mornings. It seemed to be ok that way. But the disease symptoms are so variable, I can't be sure if the glutamine in the evening actually was the cause of the worsened symptoms./
Beth - Wishing you a restful sleep tonight
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I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.
Click for info on WED/RLS AUGMENTATION & IRON
I am a volunteer moderator. My posts are not medical advice. My posts do not reflect RLS Foundation opinion.