Urine
Neurotransmitter supplementation
Urine test for levels of neurotransmitters: serotonin, GABA, glutamate, glycine, and glutamic acid.
€ 249,00
All tests
Hormones · Urine
Glutamate
Glutamate in urine; an amino acid from diet and metabolism, not a measure of irritability or brain activity.
At a glance
- Measured in urine
- In 2 test panels
- Check the preparation
Explanation
Glutamate: what is measured?
Glutamate is an amino acid, a building block of protein, and the main stimulating signaling substance in the brain. In the rest of the body, glutamate is an ordinary substance in metabolism; it is found in much protein-rich food and is used as a flavor enhancer (E621). The kidneys filter glutamate and reabsorb most of it. What ends up in the urine says nothing about glutamate in the brain.
What can it detect?
- No recognized condition; the value mainly reflects diet, protein metabolism and the kidneys
- The effect of protein-rich food, flavor enhancer (E621) and glutamine supplements
Result
What does the result mean?
Glutamate too high
A raised value is usually caused by protein-rich food, flavor enhancer, supplements with glutamine or glutamate, or concentrated urine. A high value says nothing about irritability, anxiety, migraine or 'overstimulation' of the brain.
Glutamate too low
A low value is usually caused by diluted urine or little protein in the diet and has no meaning in someone without symptoms.
After an abnormal result
An abnormal result is usually no reason for further tests, because its meaning is not established. With symptoms of mood, stress, sleep or concentration, the GP looks at the symptoms themselves; this result does not explain them. Only with a strongly raised adrenaline or noradrenaline together with matching symptoms may the GP have metanephrines measured in blood or urine.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
The measurements are not validated for mood, stress, burnout, ADHD or 'neurotransmitter balance'. Because the substances are largely made outside the brain, and the kidneys themselves make and process dopamine and serotonin, a result says nothing about the amount in the brain. In hospitals, only adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine are measured in urine, and preferably their breakdown products (metanephrines), for a specific question and with strict instructions for diet, medicines and collection. Outside that question, a result cannot be interpreted.
What can affect the result?
- Diet: foods including banana, pineapple, kiwi, walnut, tomato, avocado and vanilla can raise the result; protein-rich food and amino acid supplements also affect the values.
- Medicines, including antidepressants, ADHD medication, levodopa, some blood pressure medicines and nasal spray with a decongestant that narrows blood vessels, affect excretion.
- Caffeine, nicotine, exercise and stress around the time of collection mainly raise adrenaline and noradrenaline.
- A single urine sample depends heavily on how much you have drunk and on the time of day. Laboratories correct for this in different ways (for example with creatinine), and measurement methods and reference values differ between laboratories.
Preparation
- After getting up, first pass urine into the toilet as usual, then collect the second morning urine.
- You may have breakfast, but drink no more than 1 glass of water and no coffee before the second urine.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for 2 days beforehand.
- Do not exercise in the 8 hours before collecting the sample.
- Do you take medication? Then check with your doctor.
- Do not collect urine during your period.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
There is no group in whom the result has been shown to say something about mood or health. Not useful for assessing mood, stress, burnout, ADHD, sleep, appetite or 'neurotransmitter balance', or for choosing supplements, a diet or medicines based on it. With attacks of headache, palpitations and sweating together with high blood pressure, other tests in the hospital are needed, not this test.
How common is it?
No condition is diagnosed with this test, so there is no figure for how often an abnormal result means something. Abnormal values caused by diet, medicines, exercise and stress are common.
Get tested
Glutamate: test panels
Glutamate is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results