Is Glutamate a Trigger for RLS?

A fellow sufferer emailed me an article about glutamate related to restless legs. Actually, the article is about all kinds of conditions on which glutamate has an effect.

Glutamate is found in foods I had never really delved into this topic before. I did read more than once about the neurotransmitter GABA. This neurotransmitter is mentioned in the article together with glutamate.

The above-mentioned fellow sufferer has been adjusting her diet for a while. She is inspired by orthomolecular medicine and, among other things, restricts eating gluten. Apart from restless legs, she also suffers from irritable bowel syndrome.

I find glutamate an interesting topic. In this blog I will discuss what glutamate is and how it works. Of course I make the connection with restless legs.

What is glutamate

The Nutrition Center describes glutamate as a flavor enhancer. Glutamate occurs naturally in some foods. In others it is added.

Glutamate enhances savory flavors.

There are two types of glutamate: glutamic acid and glutamates. Glutamic acid is the same as E620. Glutamates are the E numbers E621, E622, E623, E624 and E625.

Glutamic acid is an amino acid. Glutamates are combinations of glutamic acid with another substance.

The word glutamate is similar to the word gluten. However, glutamate does not contain gluten.

Glutamate and GABA

In the article by the fellow sufferer, the author links glutamate to the neurotransmitter GABA. The amount of glutamate in your system affects the production of GABA.

The main function of the neurotransmitter GABA is to calm the brain. It is a substance that helps you to relax. However, GABA is also important for the proper functioning of the intestines and the immune system.

The author calls glutamate a neurotransmitter. That confuses me a bit, because I had understood that it is a flavor enhancer. However, both seem to be true.

Glutamate is present as a neurotransmitter in limited amounts in the brain.

In any case, according to the author, an excess of glutamate in the brain causes neurons to be overstimulated. A consequence of this can be inflammation in the brain and/or organs.

She then mentions a whole list of neurological disorders in which excess glutamate is the main cause.

Examples include Parkinson’s disease, fibromyalgia, MS, anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity, insomnia and restless legs.

Restless legs

When you read about restless legs, the neurotransmitter dopamine is often mentioned in the same breath. This is due to a deficiency of this substance.

Other possible deficiencies in restless legs are iron, magnesium, vitamin B12, folic acid or vitamin D.

With glutamate, too much seems to cause problems.

If I understand correctly, glutamate as a neurotransmitter is the natural counterpart of GABA. Where GABA provides relaxation, glutamate activates. Both are necessary for a good balance.

With glutamate as an added flavor enhancer, there is a risk of ingesting too much. These are the E numbers I mentioned above.

It is difficult, however, that manufacturers often use different descriptions on labels. That way you still don’t know what’s in a product. The quantity is also not mentioned.

It’s not entirely clear to me when exactly it is too much. There are European guidelines, but you can read different amounts ​​from other ‘experts’.

Presumably, as with many things, this will vary from person to person.

In any case, I don’t think it hurts to try to limit products with all kinds of additives in your diet.