Why are amino acids not being tested in ultra high risk or first episode patients?

Medications
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Or have they already been?

I don’t expect an answer here really, just putting it out to the internet. (These forums may be read even without having a login.)

“Recent studies have suggested that increase of brain KYNA levels is involved in psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. KYNA-producing enzymes have broad substrate specificity for amino acids, and brain uptake of kynurenine (KYN), the immediate precursor of KYNA, is via large neutral amino acid transporters.”

“Ten out of 19 amino acids (specifically, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, tyrosine, alanine, cysteine, glutamine, glutamate, and aspartate) significantly reduced KYNA formation.”

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26051411/

“This study adds to the evidence that high levels of kynurenic acid contribute to cognitive dysfunction,” she says. “If we can come up with ways to reduce those levels, we may be able to reduce these symptoms for patients.”

There are KAT inhibitors being studied as drugs for sz (Pfizer had one, guess they will be no longer persuing it, hopefully it gets licensed to someone else.) But if simple, safe, OTC amino acids can reduce KYNA in the brain, why not study those in early sz? Seems like it might prevent some cognitive impairment. Obviously it would have to be the correct amino acids. Not just a random mix.

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sarcosine is an amino acid.

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According to wikipedia “also known as N-methylglycine, is an intermediate and byproduct in glycine synthesis and degradation.”

My understanding is not sufficient on how amino acids work, but sounds like sarcosine is a byproduct of the amino acid glycine. (I’m not nitpicking, just trying to understand it.)

Interestingly, glycine is not mentioned in the first article as decreasing KYNA. Nor is it named as increasing it. Sarcosine and glycine have been studied in sz and might have an impact on cognition, but at least from what I read here, it doesn’t seem as if it’s via KYNA modulation.

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sorry, its derived from an amino acid

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Yeah I’m not not trying to nitpick, just been looking for glycine (or sarcosine) in that study and not finding it. But I suppose it just works via some other mechanism.

I think there was going to be a study on sarcosine in FEP but it never enrolled - probably no funding.

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Well, I’m assuming with a high protein diet you’re already likely consuming many amino acids in the diet. Maybe dietary restrictions would be too tough for participants in such a study, so it hasn’t been done? Just an idea.

I based this off my limited knowledge of what kynurenic acid is (something in certain animal foods). So correct me if I’m wrong!

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While people surely get amino acids in their diet, the levels in supplements would be much higher. Plus some amino acids increase KYNA and some reduce it. Like tryptophan increases it, so if you were trying to reduce KYNA you wouldn’t want extra of that. Many people consume amino acids in whey protien but it’s a mix of amino acids, including ones that raise and lower KYNA.

I’m guessing normal dietary levels would not result in very significant changes.

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Are u guys on amino acid aka supplement …!! I am poor enough to try supplement… poor me…!!!

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My battery is about to die, but another time I will post a list of the amino acids in my whey protien, and the authors list of which amino acids increased and decreased KYNA.

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Per the study:

“10 of 19 amino acids (specifically, leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, tyrosine, alanine, cysteine, glutamine, glutamate, and aspartate) significantly reduce KYNA production at the tissue level. Five (leucine, isoleucine, phenylalanine, methionine, and tyrosine) of these 10 amino acids also reduce tissue KYN concentration, with inhibition of KYNA production reflecting these reductions in KYN uptake.”

The amino acids in my whey protien are alaine, arginine, aspartic acid, cysteine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine.

As far as I can tell from my reading, of those, typtophan would increase KYNA.

It’s not that KYNA is bad anymore than dopamine is bad, it’s probably just a matter of the correct balance.

More:

https://www.psychcongress.com/article/could-chemical-switch-ease-schizophrenia

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Or we could just take aminoacids. I heard they help with sagging skin. Oh i didnt know some aminoacids rais KYNA.

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