Amino Acid Therapy

[Zazzel]

Many of us are eating low protein diets, and protein is the building block for muscles and is needed to help with many functions of the body. Too little can result in anxiety and other complications.

Is anyone out there taking any kind of amino acid. Can you tell us about your experience with it. I noticed many people have commented on their high levels of anxiety and I just read the book "The Mood Cure" by Julia Ross who talks about the importance of amino acids to help with anxiety issues. Since we can't get it through meat, there is suggestion to use supplementation. I will be discussing this with my doctor.

Here is a study regarding this topic. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/343...

Would love to hear your thoughts!

[Dixidude39]

Zaazel: Interesting abstract. I also looked up several related abstracts on this topic. This issue (on a government research site) carries far more weight than an ad with similar claims. I do wonder if there is a reliable commercial product offering "one size fits all" vs. having to have a compound pharmacy create a unique supplement. Have you come across one or more possible supplements? Thanks.

[Zazzel in reply to Dixidude39]

The book, "The Mood Cure" offers a wide range of possibilities. I guess it depends on why you would want to take the amino acids. Strictly as a replacement for protein or as a supplement for depression/ anxiety.

Julia Ross, author of "The Mood Cure," has been a specialist in the field of Nutritional therapy for eating disorders, addictions and mood problems as well as a counselor and psychotherapist since the 70's. In 2004 she released the book as a result of many years for research and trials with her own patients.

Basically, seratonin, dopamine, cortisol etc all can be depleted over the years due to stress and disease. Some of us just aren't born with much anyway. The following supplements are only a a small fraction of suggestions from the book if you are trying to calm anxiety as well. Skip to point 5 below if you are only interested in supplementation for protein loss.

Here are just a few of the suggestions from the book ( there are a lot more, but I would suggest reading it for further information.

1. For Sertonin /dopamine replacement- for mood enhancement, panic and insomnia. Supplements include 5-HTP, Tryptophan, St. John's Wort or SAme (only one of these not all)

2. Mlatonin- aids sleep and insomnia

3. For Energy, Motivation, focus- Supplements Tyrosine or Phenylalanine

4. Recover from Adrenal Overlaod/Stres- Supplements GABA,Taurine, Glycine, or Calmes Forte

5.Basically, there are 22 different amino acids in protein-containing food, but nine are essential. They include: histadine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan and valine. If you take a supplement the blend is called Freeform. Apparently, it is important for the blend to contain all nine of these or it could cause mood disruptions.

Please note, your regular doctor, may not have any information on this subject as it is more of a holistic approach, but they can determine if it would be safe or not depending on any other drugs taken. For anyone reading this, it is always important to discuss and supplementation with your doctor first as it can sometimes be more damaging to take them and there can be drug interactions.

[Dixidude39 in reply to Zazzel]

Thank you, Zazzel for your comprehensive response. I am bi-polar, but have been off of Lithium for about 10 years. I will indeed check with my nephrologist. If no harm is indicated, then why not!