I've been meaning to write a blog post about this "once I've finished my research and tests on myself", but it's been months now and it's still on going, and I also think maybe other people might know stuff about this too.
Background
I've had my genome sequenced at Ancestry DNA. I downloaded my RAW DNA data and uploaded it into a number of tools to find my gene mutations (SNP - Single Nucleo Peptides).
I spent ages researching each and working on them, and then found a local doctor who understand this type of thing and the Methylation cycle which was my main focus. I've had blood tests done that were indicated from my gene results.
I'm only going to talk about one today, and that's GAD1. The reason is that I think it may be a common autism one. A friend of mine also has it and has similar symptoms to me, and I often see these symptoms discussed around here.
GAD1 the core embuggerance.
So, a little about GAD1...
From self hacked;
"
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD).
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase converts glutamate to GABA.
If this protein isn’t working, you’ll have excess glutamate and too little GABA in various brain regions. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter and GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter."
Symptoms you may experience;
Because I don't convert glutamate to GABA I think I always have a bit too much glutamate and if I eat glutamate rich foods, especially MSG, Gluten and Casein I have way, way too much.
More problems if we don't address glutamate in the brain.
Glutamate in excess causes excito toxicity (too many excitory neurotransmitters)
(source; Excitotoxicity - Wikipedia)
"
Excitotoxicity may be involved in spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss (through noise overexposure or ototoxicity), and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, alcoholism or alcohol withdrawal and especially over-rapid benzodiazepine withdrawal, and also Huntington's disease.[3][4] Other common conditions that cause excessive glutamate concentrations around neurons are hypoglycemia.
"
That's a nasty looking list, and it's proven that it leads to neuron death eventually.
Ways to help the problem.
Remove sources of free glutamate.
Check out this link for more info; sources of free glutamate.
I've found myself loads better after removing most of the above. The biggest gains were from dropping cheese and gluten, and I find small amounts of dairy and small amounts of non-wheat gluten are often ok.
Supplements to help.
First, why taking GABA is only limited if any help. GABA supplements can't cross the blood brain barrier, but they CAN bind to GABA receptors in the gut. I do find GABA calming, but it's only of limited help and it seems to give me palpitations if I take too much. I think that it's calming me, but not helping the root cause which is too much glutamate in my brain. We need something to reduce the gluamate and the damage it causes.
For glutamate to cause it's damage it needs to bind to NMDA receptors in the brain. Other substances can block this by binding to the same receptors and out competing glutamate.
Here is a list of substances that block the receptor (note, some of these are dangerous and/or illegal, and you should seek medical help before taking anything that you don't know to be safe).
(source; NMDA Antagonists - Supplements) I had a better source but can't find it right now,
"
NMDA antagonists
Magnesium — a potent NMDA inhibitor. High dose transdermal application, or injection, required for maximum effect.
Zinc
Progesterone (a hormonal supplement usually sold as a transdermal cream)
Huperzine A (a supplement)
Taurine (taurine also activates GABA receptors)
Amantadine (antiviral drug, also used for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's)
Agmatine (a supplement)
Lithium
Dextromethorphan (DXM) — an over-the-counter cough mixture (cough suppressant)
Dextrorphan (DXO) is an active metabolite of DXM. DXO a psychedelic drug and cough suppressant, is a much more potent NMDA antagonist than DXM. DXM is converted to DXO in the body by cytochrome P450 2D6 isoenzyme (aka: CYP2D6). Thus cytochrome P450 2D6 inhibitors such as imipramine, propranolol, quinine and citalopram may decrease the effect of DXM.
Dantrolene (muscle relaxant)
Orphenadrine (muscle relaxant)
Methadone (opiate)
Dextropropoxyphene (weak opiate)
Ketamine — an anesthetic and recreational drug.
Riluzole (ALS drug)
Memantine (Namenda)
Ibogaine — the hallucinogenic active principal from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga. Microdoses of around 50 mg daily of Tabernanthe iboga root bark will not produce a hallucinogenic effect, but still have therapeutic effects. Tabernanthe iboga root bark is legal to buy in the UK, but not in the US.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) — an anesthetic gas (often used in dentistry) and and recreational drug. Also know as laughing gas. Depletes vitamin B12.
Guaifenesin (possibly?) — an over-the-counter decongestant. The guaifenesin protocol is a fibromyalgia and ME/CFS treatment.
Xenon gas. An anesthetic gas.
Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) — the rhynchophylline constituent of this herb may inhibit the NMDA receptor.
Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) — a MAO-inhibitor herb. MAO-inhibitors should never be taken with nexavir/kutapressin.
Dangerous NMDA inhibitors:
Lead is a potent inhibitor of the NMDA receptor
Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust) Some studies found that, like other NMDA receptor antagonists, phencyclidine can cause a certain kind of brain damage called Olney's lesions in rats.
Kynurenic acid (high levels associated with schizophrenia and pychosis)
NMDA agonists (NOTE stay away from these)
Glutamate
Glycine
Ammonia
"
I take taurine and zinc for now, and I'm trying to find magnesium that I don't react badly to.
I also drink a few beers every night, and ethanol is also an NMDA antagonist which finally explains why it's been so efficient at removing symptoms. 2 -3 beers and my agitation and electric under the skin feeling dissapears.
I'll update as I learn more - hope this helps someone.
Background
I've had my genome sequenced at Ancestry DNA. I downloaded my RAW DNA data and uploaded it into a number of tools to find my gene mutations (SNP - Single Nucleo Peptides).
I spent ages researching each and working on them, and then found a local doctor who understand this type of thing and the Methylation cycle which was my main focus. I've had blood tests done that were indicated from my gene results.
I'm only going to talk about one today, and that's GAD1. The reason is that I think it may be a common autism one. A friend of mine also has it and has similar symptoms to me, and I often see these symptoms discussed around here.
GAD1 the core embuggerance.
So, a little about GAD1...
From self hacked;
"
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase (GAD).
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase converts glutamate to GABA.
If this protein isn’t working, you’ll have excess glutamate and too little GABA in various brain regions. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter and GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter."
Symptoms you may experience;
- Irritability
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- OCD
- Problems sleeping
- Can't concentrate
- I get ADHD like symptoms
- Maybe depression, but I'm not 100% about that
- I get an electric feeling under my skin when it's really bad.
Because I don't convert glutamate to GABA I think I always have a bit too much glutamate and if I eat glutamate rich foods, especially MSG, Gluten and Casein I have way, way too much.
More problems if we don't address glutamate in the brain.
Glutamate in excess causes excito toxicity (too many excitory neurotransmitters)
(source; Excitotoxicity - Wikipedia)
"
Excitotoxicity may be involved in spinal cord injury, stroke, traumatic brain injury, hearing loss (through noise overexposure or ototoxicity), and in neurodegenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease, alcoholism or alcohol withdrawal and especially over-rapid benzodiazepine withdrawal, and also Huntington's disease.[3][4] Other common conditions that cause excessive glutamate concentrations around neurons are hypoglycemia.
"
That's a nasty looking list, and it's proven that it leads to neuron death eventually.
Ways to help the problem.
Remove sources of free glutamate.
- Gluten esp. wheat
- Dairy, esp cheese
- MSG and any aadditivewith it in (most ingredients that show "natural flavours" are MSG that is naturally occurring)
- Soy, esp. soy sauce (OH NO!!!)
- Long, slow cooked meat.
- Cured meat.
- Seeds & nuts (double OH NO!!)
Check out this link for more info; sources of free glutamate.
I've found myself loads better after removing most of the above. The biggest gains were from dropping cheese and gluten, and I find small amounts of dairy and small amounts of non-wheat gluten are often ok.
Supplements to help.
First, why taking GABA is only limited if any help. GABA supplements can't cross the blood brain barrier, but they CAN bind to GABA receptors in the gut. I do find GABA calming, but it's only of limited help and it seems to give me palpitations if I take too much. I think that it's calming me, but not helping the root cause which is too much glutamate in my brain. We need something to reduce the gluamate and the damage it causes.
For glutamate to cause it's damage it needs to bind to NMDA receptors in the brain. Other substances can block this by binding to the same receptors and out competing glutamate.
Here is a list of substances that block the receptor (note, some of these are dangerous and/or illegal, and you should seek medical help before taking anything that you don't know to be safe).
(source; NMDA Antagonists - Supplements) I had a better source but can't find it right now,
"
NMDA antagonists
Magnesium — a potent NMDA inhibitor. High dose transdermal application, or injection, required for maximum effect.
Zinc
Progesterone (a hormonal supplement usually sold as a transdermal cream)
Huperzine A (a supplement)
Taurine (taurine also activates GABA receptors)
Amantadine (antiviral drug, also used for Parkinson's and Alzheimer's)
Agmatine (a supplement)
Lithium
Dextromethorphan (DXM) — an over-the-counter cough mixture (cough suppressant)
Dextrorphan (DXO) is an active metabolite of DXM. DXO a psychedelic drug and cough suppressant, is a much more potent NMDA antagonist than DXM. DXM is converted to DXO in the body by cytochrome P450 2D6 isoenzyme (aka: CYP2D6). Thus cytochrome P450 2D6 inhibitors such as imipramine, propranolol, quinine and citalopram may decrease the effect of DXM.
Dantrolene (muscle relaxant)
Orphenadrine (muscle relaxant)
Methadone (opiate)
Dextropropoxyphene (weak opiate)
Ketamine — an anesthetic and recreational drug.
Riluzole (ALS drug)
Memantine (Namenda)
Ibogaine — the hallucinogenic active principal from the root bark of Tabernanthe iboga. Microdoses of around 50 mg daily of Tabernanthe iboga root bark will not produce a hallucinogenic effect, but still have therapeutic effects. Tabernanthe iboga root bark is legal to buy in the UK, but not in the US.
Nitrous oxide (N2O) — an anesthetic gas (often used in dentistry) and and recreational drug. Also know as laughing gas. Depletes vitamin B12.
Guaifenesin (possibly?) — an over-the-counter decongestant. The guaifenesin protocol is a fibromyalgia and ME/CFS treatment.
Xenon gas. An anesthetic gas.
Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) — the rhynchophylline constituent of this herb may inhibit the NMDA receptor.
Syrian rue (Peganum harmala) — a MAO-inhibitor herb. MAO-inhibitors should never be taken with nexavir/kutapressin.
Dangerous NMDA inhibitors:
Lead is a potent inhibitor of the NMDA receptor
Phencyclidine (PCP, angel dust) Some studies found that, like other NMDA receptor antagonists, phencyclidine can cause a certain kind of brain damage called Olney's lesions in rats.
Kynurenic acid (high levels associated with schizophrenia and pychosis)
NMDA agonists (NOTE stay away from these)
Glutamate
Glycine
Ammonia
"
I take taurine and zinc for now, and I'm trying to find magnesium that I don't react badly to.
I also drink a few beers every night, and ethanol is also an NMDA antagonist which finally explains why it's been so efficient at removing symptoms. 2 -3 beers and my agitation and electric under the skin feeling dissapears.
I'll update as I learn more - hope this helps someone.
