So how is reducing glutamate going to help?
Well what can excess glutamate do to your brain?

- Excess glutamate is thought to be damaging nerves in people with MS, ALS, etc because of constant neuro-stimulation without calming GABA like normal brain. All of this taking extra ATP (fuel)

- Because glutamate is in excess, not at healthy level, it interferes with mitochondrial function that REDUCES ATP. This lack of fuel (ATP) is thought to be contributing to the inability to repair thus contributing to nerve damage too.

Proof in the Pudding, see the URL below for the research but the drug Riluzole is one of the most successful drugs used in ALS patients and is now in last stage clinical trials with MS. Riluzole works to REDUCE glutamate.

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Multiple_Sclerosis_MS/forum/14064209-new-drug-watch-riluzole

Realize that if a manufacturer changes MSG to something that is 75% MSG + 25% something else, then they can call it something else, at least from what I have read.

So you need to read labels to make sure food does NOT contain:
MSGs
Mono sodium glutamate
Mono potassium glutamate
Glutamate
Glutamic Acid (another name for glutamate)

Vegetable Protein Extract
Hydrlyzed Vegetable protein (HVP)
Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP)
Autolyzed Plant Protein
Autolyzed Yeast

Calcium Caseinate
Sodium Caseinate
Senomyx

Many people with MS suffer many symptoms from the disease that they try to alleviate with meds, supplements, diet, etc. Some of these symptoms might be headaches, dizziness, vision problems etc.

Well avoiding certain food additives MAY decrease symptoms. Below I have added some information that IF you feel pertains to your health you could discuss with a medical professional, as I am not a doc.

MSGs = BAD
See research from NIH and FDA about this chemical
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/14076608

Aspartame = BAD
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/14076827

Best wishes to all,
EP

PS If you have info on these chemicals, negative or positive, please reply.

Splenda Info

http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Multiple_Sclerosis_MS/forum/6175064-noooo-splenda

------Research-----
1.) http://archneur.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=784531
Excitatory Amino Acids and Multiple Sclerosis Evidence From Cerebrospinal Fluid FREE
Paola Sarchielli, MD; et, al. JAMA Neurology, Arch Neurol. 2003;60(8):1082-1088

Results: Cerebrospinal fluid GLUTAMATE levels were significantly HIGHER in patients assessed DURING RELAPSE compared with those of the patients with relapsing-remitting MS examined during the stable clinical phase and the controls (P<.001).

Conclusions Neurotoxic events occur in MS patients, and they can be responsible for oligodendrocyte and neuronal cell death in patients with this demyelinating disease.

AVOID

MSGs + Reply#4 above has a link to why you should avoid this too.

Heavy metals that are toxic (aluminum, lead, mercury fillings,etc)

Allergens that increase inflammation and immune system. Both are involved with
autoimmune disease and meds are aimed and reducing them. Why not get rid of some
of root cause by getting tested for typical doc IgE acute allergies and chronic IgG allergies (rarely tested for by docs)?

Allergens
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/15789816

Allergen tests
http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/loved-ones-who-support-someone-with-ms/discussions/messages/14990015

Triad brought up more info on glutamate
Specifically how part of this MAY come for a protein metabolsim problem ------

Thank you everyone for your research and great info. Elevated levels of glutamate would follow a lack of protease. The elevated glutamate would be due to activation of the "kynurenine pathway." The kynurenine pathway is a tryptophan degrading pathway. If it is upregulated it will rapidly degrade the essential amino acid tryptophan and produce toxic metabolites, such as kynurenic and quinolinic acid. These toxic metabolites increase glutamate and reduce the brain's calming neurotransmitter GABA. Here is one study that shows the kynurenine pathway is activated in MS.

In the study entitled “Kynurenine metabolism in multiple sclerosis”
researchers concluded, “The concentration of kynurenic acid is elevated in the plasma of MS patients, and there is a tendency to an elevation in the red blood cells…Our data demonstrate the involvement of the kynurenine system in the pathogenesis of MS…” (Hartai, 2005).

The kynurenine pathway is also activated in fibromyalgia (research confirms fibromyalgia patients also lack protease).

In the study entitled “Kynurenine pathway activity linked to fibromyalgia fatigue” researchers concluded that, “KYN-p (kynurening pathway) activity is associated with FM fatigue in humans and a murine model” (Boomershine, 2009).

Here is a study on the elevated glutamate in fibromyalgia.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19790053

Here is a study on quinolinic acid (one of the toxic metabolites from the activated kynurenine pathway) and glutamate.

Quinolinic acid stimulates synaptosomal glutamate release and inhibits glutamate uptake into astrocytes.
Tavares, R.G., C.I. Tasca, C.E. Santos, L.B. Alves, L.O. Porciúncula, T. Emanuelli, D.O. Souza. 2002. Neurochem Int. 40(7):621-7.
“Quinolinic acid (QA) is an endogenous neurotoxin involved in various neurological diseases, whose action seems to be exerted via glutamatergic receptors… Enhanced synaptosomal glutamate release, associated with inhibition of glutamate uptake into astrocytes induced by QA could contribute to increase extracellular glutamate concentrations which ultimately lead to overstimulation of the glutamatergic system.

-------------
“Most patients with rheumatoid arthritis excrete in their urine increased quantities of metabolic products of tryptophan” states the study entitled “Serum kynurenine in rheumatoid arthritis” (Spiera, 1969).

The following study states that a "drastic increase" is demonstrated in the endogenous levels of glutamate in experimental arthritis models.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21666346

The kynurenine pathway is also dysregulated in diabetes.

In the study entitled “Involvement of kynurenine pathway in
neuroinflammation and diabetes” researchers stated, “There is accumulating evidence that the excitotoxin quinolinic acid is involved in the neurotoxicity associated with several inflammatory brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, motor neuron diseases, multiple sclerosis and major psychiatric disorders. We also recently found that the kynurenine pathway is dysregulated in diabetes” (Guillemin, 2011).

Patients with diabetes also have elevated levels of glutamate.

http://www.elements4health.com/high-levels-of-glutamate-in-type-1-diabetes-linked-to-depression.html

Lorrie Online posted some good links on the damage that MSGs and asparatame can reek on the human body.
http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Multiple_Sclerosis_MS/forum/16460504-ms-aspartame-msg-excitotoxins

Just some of the hidden names:
http://rense.com/general92/hidename.html

Connection between MS and aspartame:
http://rense.com/general53/ms.htm

Russell Blaylock MD presentation on excitotoxins:
(excitotoxicity = nerve cells committing suicide)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTSvlGniHok

I recently got the book "Excitotoxins: the taste that kills" written by a retired neurosurgeon from my local library and it goes over a lot of this info plus a lot more. Page 83-85 covers how human adults are 5 times more vulnerable to the effects, ie neuron death and retinal cell death, than mice are. Research on mice is how they verified safety. This research only covered a limited amount of ingested MSGs in mice. The research did not account for it called Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP),etc and asparatame being ingested in many types of food or it being 5 times more unsafe in humans adults and 9 times more unsafe for children under the age of 5 because their blood brain barrier, made mostly of astrocytes, is not fully formed to protect the brain.

The book talked about these excitotoxins effecting dopamine in the brain which is the primary mechanism the hypothalamus uses to work. The hypothalamus is the master gland therefore excitotoxins are neuroendocrine disrupters. Basically, they mess up hormones being produced in the brain. Specifically it reduced hormone levels of oxytocin (sometimes called the cuddle hormone that counters stress), growth hormone, etc.

The book focused on low energy output from mitochondria. Research found low mitochondrial output of fuel ATP was found in Parkinson's, Huntington's & ALS even before symptoms showed up. In Parkinson's disease this was, in part, due to low complex 1 + NADH (B vitamin). Since the mitochondria was low in a needed requirement, complex 1 + NADH, its fuel output of ATP was low. The author sources research that found low magnesium and disrupted iron metabolism. Iron buildup and therefore free radical damage was higher in these diseases too. The author covers how high glutamate and aspartame due damage to the brain and how reducing glutamate with drugs helped one of these diseases.

I have talked about how one of the most effective treatments in ALS is Riluzole which reduces glutamate and Alzheimer's uses Memantine for the same reason. Both MS and Parkinson's have glutamate reducing drugs in different NIH phases of development currently.

So discussing with your doctor ways to reduce excitotoxins such as Mono Sodium GLUTAMATE (MSGs) & other names it goes under such as Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP),etc + aspartame would seem wise.

Making sure you get enough Magnesium, antioxidants to counter free radical damage and mitochondrial support seem like good points to discuss with your doctor too.

I have my hubby on multivitamin with plenty of B vitamins, Co Enzyme Q10 but am thinking about upgrading to Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 with Enhanced Mitochondrial Support with shilajit that doubles CoEnzyme Q10 in the mitochondria. I also have him on fatty acids and Neuromagnesium L-Threonate.
Periodically, when we have some extra money I put him on Glutathione, a great antioxidant.
If you feel any of this applies to you then discuss it with your health professional.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

I recently got the book "Excitotoxins: the taste that kills" written by a retired neurosurgeon from my local library and it goes over a lot of this info plus a lot more. Page 83-85 covers how human adults are 5 times more vulnerable to the effects, ie neuron death and retinal cell death, than mice are. Research on mice is how they verified safety. This research only covered a limited amount of ingested MSGs in mice. The research did not account for it called Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP),etc and aspartame being ingested in many types of food or it being 5 times more unsafe in humans adults and 9 times more unsafe for children under the age of 5. This is because children under 5 are still developing their blood brain barrier(BBB), made mostly of astrocytes, & therefore it is not fully formed to protect the brain.

The book talked about these excitotoxins effecting dopamine in the brain which is the primary mechanism the hypothalamus uses to work. The hypothalamus is the master gland therefore excitotoxins are neuroendocrine disrupters. Basically, they mess up hormones being produced in the brain. Specifically it reduced hormone levels of oxytocin (sometimes called the cuddle hormone that counters stress), growth hormone, etc.

The book focused on low energy output from mitochondria. Research found low mitochondrial output of fuel ATP was found in Parkinson's, Huntington's & ALS even before symptoms showed up. In Parkinson's disease this was, in part, due to low complex 1 + NADH (B vitamin). Since the mitochondria was low in a needed requirement, complex 1 + NADH, its fuel output of ATP was low. The author sources research that found low magnesium and disrupted iron metabolism. Iron buildup and therefore free radical damage was higher in these diseases too. The author covers how high glutamate and aspartame due damage to the brain and how reducing glutamate with drugs helped one of these diseases.

I have talked about how one of the most effective treatments in ALS is Riluzole which reduces glutamate and Alzheimer's uses Memantine for the same reason. Both MS and Parkinson's have glutamate reducing drugs in different NIH phases of development currently.

So discussing with your doctor ways to reduce excitotoxins such as Mono Sodium GLUTAMATE (MSGs) & other names it goes under such as Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP),etc + aspartame would seem wise.

Making sure you get enough Magnesium, antioxidants to counter free radical damage and mitochondrial support seem like good points to discuss with your doctor too.

I have my hubby on multivitamin with plenty of B vitamins, Co Enzyme Q10 but am thinking about upgrading to Super Ubiquinol CoQ10 with Enhanced Mitochondrial Support with shilajit that doubles CoEnzyme Q10 in the mitochondria. I also have him on fatty acids and Neuromagnesium L-Threonate.
Periodically, when we have some extra money I put him on Glutathione, a great antioxidant.
If you feel any of this applies to you then discuss it with your health professional.

What are your thoughts on this topic?