Glutamate plasma levels

G4. Gerrard, J. W., Marko, A. M., and Buchan, D., Glutamic acid derivatives in juvenile and adult celiac disease, 1. Plasma glutamic acid levels after a gliadin tolerance test. Can. Med. Assoc. J. 83, 1321-1323 (1960). 

Newborn infants present a special problem with respect to vitamin K. They have low plasma levels of prothrombin and the other vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (about 30% to 60% of the adult concentrations, depending on gestational age). To a great extent, this is the result of the relatively late development of liver glutamate carboxylase, but they are also short of vitamin K, as a result of the placental barrier that limits fetal uptake of the vitamin. This is probably a way of regulating the activity of Gas6 and other vitantin K-dependent proteins in development and differentiation (Section 5.3.4 Israels et al., 1997). 

Mitani H, Shirayama Y, Yamada T, Maeda K, Ashby CR, Kawa-hara R. Correlation between plasma levels of glutamate, alanine, and serine with severity of depression. Progr. Neuro-Psycho-pharmacol. Biol. Psychiatry 2006 30 1155-1158. Martinez-Turrillas R, Erechilla D, Del Rio J. Chronic antidepressant treatment increases the membrane expression of AMPA receptors in rat hippocampus. Neuropharmacology 2002 43 1230-1237. Petty E. GABA and mood disorders a brief review and hypothesis. J. Affec. Disorders 1995 34 275-281. 

The plasma levels of glutamate necessary to cause hypothalamic lesions in mice are never reached voluntarily in humans since the highest palatable dose is well below these concentrations. However, because of the animal studies, MSG is not recommended as an ingredient in baby formulas. 

To date, several small molecule biomarkers of renal toxicity have been described in the literature. Urine composition is considered to reflect kidney function and pathology. Thus, in the presence of proximal tubule damage, the relative concentrations of a number of metabolites (glucose, lactate, alanine, lysine, glutamine, glutamate, and valine) are markedly increased due to impaired reabsorption of those metabolites. An increase in the relative concentrations of those metabolites in urine is typically accompanied by a corresponding decrease in plasma levels [50,55],... 

In 63 patients with liver disease, the levels of vitamin A, RBP, and TTR were all markedly decreased and were highly significantly correlated with each other over a wide range of concentrations (Smith and Goodman, 1971). Nineteen patients with acute hepatitis were studied with serial samples as the disease improved, the plasma levels of vitamin A, RBP, and TTR all increased. In these patients, the RBP concentrations correlated negatively with the values of standard tests of liver function (plasma bilirubin, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase). It has been reported that the level of RBP is of value clinically in assessing the course of acute infectious hepatitis and, to a limited extent, in the differentiation of various forms of jaundice (Kindler, 1972). It seems clear that measurements of plasma RBP levels in patients with liver disease could, if available, be used as an index of hepatic parenchymal functional status and hence could serve as a useful clinical liver function test. 

Laboratory abnormalities include elevated plasma levels of retinol, calcium, alkaline phosphatase, serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT). 

After 48 h, marked increase in blood glucose, depressed plasma insulin level, marked depletion of liver glycogen, significant increase in plasma creatinine phosphokinase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase activity (Giri etal. 1979)... 

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