Glutamic Acid: Sources, Functions, Uses and Sample Questions

Glutamic acid (Glu) is an amino acid used to form proteins in the body. It was first extracted in 1865. Naturally, there are two types of amino acid - essential amino acid and non-essential amino acid, glutamic acid happens to be a non-essential amino acid. Its chemical formula is written as C₅H₉O₄N and it has a molar weight of 147.13 g/mol and an atomicity of 19. 

It comprises of an amino group of aliphatic amino acid, α-carboxylic acid, and a side chain of carboxylic acid. In the body, the glutamic acid turns into glutamate also known as monosodium glutamate (MSG). Glutamate is a sodium salt and a very common food additive which is involved in the function of learning and memory.

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Key Terms: Glutamic acid, amino group, high-protein food items, monosodium glutamate, protein, aliphatic amino acid, α-carboxylic acid, amino acid, carboxylic acid

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Sources of Glutamic Acid

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Glutamic acid is found in vast ranges of high-protein food items, they are listed as below:

• The primary source of glutamic acid comprises of dairy products like - eggs, meat, grains, fish, and poultry products. As mentioned before, this group of amino acids acts as an additive to enhance the flavor of food-related products.
• Vegetable sources of glutamic acid comprises of beets, cabbage, kale, spinach, parsley, wheat, and wheatgrass.
• Both beans and legumes act as rich protein-based food items and contain a considerable amount of glutamic acid.

Figure 2. Dietary Neurotransmitters

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Functions of Glutamic Acid

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1. Brain Functioning

• Glutamic acid acts as a powerhouse for the supply of energy to the brain and increases the mental capacity for high alertness. 
• The deficiency of this amino acid can cause attention deficit disorder (ADD). 
• Glutamic acid also works as a neurotransmitter in the brain and in the vertebrate nervous system. 
• It helps the nerve cell in the brain to send and receive information from other cells for better cognitive functioning. 
• It also manages ions like calcium, sodium, and magnesium. 
• Many practitioners advocate for glutamic acid as it helps in increasing the capacity of learning and enhancing memories.

2. Heart Function

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) which is a salt of glutamic acid assists in refining the mechanisms of a heartbeat. It also helps in decreasing the pain and risk associated with coronary heart disease.

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3. Metabolism

• Glutamic acid plays an important part in the metabolism of cells. In the human body, digestion breaks down the proteins into amino acids and further the process of transamination. Transamination is a chemical reaction which helps in the degradation of amino acids and converts them into non-essential amino acids. 
• Glutamate also plays a key role in the ejection of excess nitrogen in the human body. 
• Here is the metabolic reaction with glutamic acid: 

Glutamate + H₂O + NADP⁺ → α-keto gluta-rate + NADPH + NH₃ + H⁺

4. Prostate Health

The prostate gland is naturally comprised of a high concentration of glutamic acid which helps in maintaining the healthy functioning of the prostate.

5. Immune System Cleansing and Detoxification

• The glutamic acid helps in the cleansing of toxins generated by the metabolic waste in the body. 
• It is also responsible for detoxifying ammonia by converting glutamic into glutamine which is a hydrophilic amino acid present in most proteins.

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Uses of Glutamic Acid

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1. Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)

MSG is the sodium salt of glutamic acid. It is naturally found in many food items like tomatoes, cheeses, etc and is primarily used as a taste enhancer in the savory, meaty flavor famously known as an umami flavor of food. 

2. Treatment of Mental Disorders

It plays a crucial role in the treatment of personality and childhood behavioral disorders. It also helps in resolving other illnesses like mental retardation, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, and ulcers.

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3. Prevents High-Risk Complication

• It not only helps in treating hypoglycemia known as low blood sugar in diabetic patients but also helps in preventing them from entering a hypo-glycaemic coma. 
• Additionally, glutamic acid is widely recognized in the prevention of nerve damage in people going through chemotherapy.

Read More: Cannizzaro Reaction Mechanism

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Things to Remember

• The shorthand symbols of glutamic acid are Glu/E and its chemical formula is written as C₅H₉O₄N respectively.
• It was first introduced in 1865.
• The sodium salt of glutamic acid is called monosodium glutamate also known as MSG.
• Sources of glutamic acid can be found in various dairy, poultry, meat, grain and vegetable products.
• Glutamic acid is highly known for treating various physical and mental ailments.

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