stimulating

The amino acid glutamine improves low mood by addressing gut health, and it has calming effects too

October 3, 2025 By Trudy Scott 2 Comments

Recent research has shown that the amino acid glutamine can positively affect gut health by supporting the gut microbiome, gut mucosal wall integrity, and by modulating inflammatory responses.

As modulated by the vagus nerve, via the enteric nervous system, the gut-brain connection can impact the brain’s neurochemical environment. Poor gut health can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters, which can result in neuropsychiatric based conditions such as depression.

Glutamine supplementation may provide significant adjunctive nutritional support in cases of depression by promoting proper gut health and function.

The above is an excerpt from the paper, The role of glutamine in supporting gut health and neuropsychiatric factors, published in 2021.

The authors do note the fact that glutamine is a “fundamental precursor to the most prevalent neurotransmitters, GABA and glutamate.” This is why glutamine supplementation can be calming for many individuals and may sometimes be too stimulating for some folks. It also highlights the importance of biochemical individuality and why it’s important to find your ideal dose (more on that below).

I appreciate their call for more research on glutamine, “as well as studies which could explore using glutamine in concert with other supportive amino acids, such as GABA and tyrosine, in an effort to restore neurotransmitter equilibrium” (more on that below too).

Read on below to learn more about how glutamine directly supports gut health and what harms the gut; how to know if glutamine will be calming or too stimulating, and how much to use; and other clues that you may benefit from glutamine; and additional resources when are new to amino acids such as glutamine, GABA and others.

How glutamine directly supports gut health and what harms the gut

From the above paper, glutamine:

1) has a positive impact on sustaining the balance of the gut microbiome
2) increases the expression of tight junction proteins and the integrity of the intestinal lining (i.e. it heals leaky gut)
3) helps to minimize the inflammatory response in situations of gut mucosal irritation (i.e the inner most lining of the digestive tract).

The authors also discuss all of the many factors that are harmful for the gut: highly processed foods, refined sugars, saturated fat, and minimal healthy fatty acids and antioxidants; lack of probiotics and prebiotics; blood sugar swings; stress and high cortisol; medications and alcohol consumption. Much of this is addressed in my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution”

It’s well-worth reading the entire paper for a full understanding of the two-way gut-brain connection via the vagus nerve and the role of the microbiome when it comes to neurotransmitter production and much more.

How to know if glutamine will be calming or too stimulating, and how much to use

As mentioned above, the authors share that glutamine is a precursor to GABA, a calming neurotransmitter i.e. it is often calming.

Glutamine is also a precursor to glutamate and can be too stimulating for some, typically when very high doses are used.

The paper mentions studies that “observed the effects of glutamine supplementation used at doses of between 15 g and 30 g,” however my recommendation is to start low and slowly increase based on your unique need. I have clients and those in my programs start with 500 mg once a day and increase to 1-3 x 500 mg, up to 3 or 4 times a day.

The only way to know if it will be calming or stimulating is to do a trial alone i.e. with no other new supplements, and carefully track the effects.

I also find using glutamine powder and holding it for 1-2 minutes on the tongue is more effective and less is often needed. This has additional benefits of stopping intense sugar cravings in their tracks (more on this below).

Other clues that you may benefit from glutamine: symptoms of low blood sugar

As mentioned above, glutamine helps reduce intense sugar cravings, and prevents low blood sugar (which can actually cause anxiety and panic attacks). This aspect is not mentioned in the paper but addressing low blood sugar is yet another application of glutamine when it comes to anxiety and low mood.

Here are all the symptoms we see with low blood sugar:

Crave sugar, starch or alcohol any time during the day
Irritable, shaky, headachey – especially if going too long between meals
Intense cravings for sweets
Lightheaded if meals are missed
Eating relieves fatigue
Agitated, easily upset
Nervous, anxious, panic attacks

And here are some other blog posts that illustrate some of the above:

Together with low serotonin and low GABA, addressing low blood sugar is one of the most effective approaches I use with clients to help ease anxiety. We achieve this with the use of glutamine and by controlling blood sugar by starting the day with a breakfast that includes quality animal protein.

We may also use tyrosine if there are low dopamine symptoms and d-phenylalanine if there are low endorphin symptoms, in an “effort to restore neurotransmitter equilibrium.”

Additional resources when you are new to using glutamine, GABA or tyrosine, or other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low blood sugar (indicating a possible need for glutamine) or low GABA (indicating a possible need for GABA or theanine) or low dopamine (indicating a possible need for tyrosine) or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings. I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this and glutamine is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues. The importance of quality animal protein and healthy fats is also covered.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to get help. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Now I’d love to hear from you…

Has glutamine helped you with your leaky gut, low mood and/or offered calming effects?

What about intense cravings for something sweet or irritability and poor focus? And other low blood sugar symptoms?

How much do you find helps? And do you use powder or capsules?

Are you interested in a program to learn more about the safe and effective use of glutamine and/or tyrosine?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Is DPA stimulating; can it be used with kids and someone with bipolar disorder; can it be used with a benzo/SSRI? (and other questions)

July 22, 2022 By Trudy Scott 12 Comments

DPA (d-phenylalanine) is an amino acid that destroys the enzyme that breaks down endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that you experience with an endorphin rush when you go for a run or when someone gives you a big hug, when you show kindness to someone or someone does something nice for you. The amino acid DPA helps to raise your endorphins. With low endorphins you can feel very weepy, overly emotional, be extra sensitive to emotional pain, be sensitive to physical pain, and indulge in comfort/reward eating. Today I’m sharing some questions (and my feedback) as to whether it’s stimulating, can it be used with kids and someone with bipolar disorder, can it be used with a benzo/SSRI and more.

Misha has had success with DPA and wants to know if it is considered too stimulating. Here is her feedback and question:

I first tried DPA after reading about it on your blog and found it helpful for raising my mood. The DPA definitely helped curb my weepiness. I used Lidtke Endorphigen 1 cap/day. I have chronic Lyme which creates severe difficulty with sleep, anxiety and depression. Six months ago my neurologist took me off DPA saying it would be too stimulating to my nervous system.

I have since begun using DPA again; I really need the endorphin boost. Do you have any insights on whether DPA is considered stimulating? Whether it interferes with sleep (unfortunately my sleep is bad whether I take DPA or not)? Or suggestions for time of day to take it?

Here is my feedback for Misha: There is no evidence that DPA is too stimulating whereas DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) is known to be stimulating (it works like a combination of DPA and tyrosine).

And when I hear all this it tells me the person needs endorphin support:

“found it helpful for raising my mood”
“The DPA definitely helped curb my weepiness”
“I have since begun using DPA again; I really need the endorphin boost”

That said anything is possible which is why using the amino acids is based on the questionnaire and trials to see how a person responds. The best way to know if sleep is affected is to monitor sleep when using it and when not using it. She says her sleep is bad whether she takes DPA or not so I would recommend going back to her neurologist, sharing this information and the fact that it’s helping her so much. And look for other causes of her sleep issues.

Anna asks if DPA and other amino acids are safe for kids and how high doses? This is her question:

My 10 yr old has been diagnosed with social anxiety and she ticks off most of the boxes for low endorphins, low GABA, low serotonin. She’s very sensitive and very very emotional. We tried, but can’t seem to find a naturopath that can help her much. I feel after a while they all reach a dead end. I have been following you for a year and recently got your book. It looks relatively easy to follow, however I’m a bit reluctant, as she’s a kid.

My feedback: I work with women and once they have figured out the amino acids and neurotransmitter imbalances themselves they find it much easier to help their children who often have similar issues. When that is not the case working with a practitioner is ideal. That being said many moms become informed and educated enough to trial the amino acids on their own (like this mom who had her daughter use GABA with much success).

Anna says her daughter is very sensitive and very very emotional so I’d consider using 125 mg DPA to start (500 mg is an adult starting dose).With kids we also always start with dietary changes as laid out in my book. A good place to start is with a gluten-free and sugar-free diet and DPA (and the other amino acids) can help curb the cravings and feelings of deprivation.

Anon has bipolar disorder and likes comfort foods. This is her question:

I have bipolar disorder and wonder if the DPA will send me into a manic state. It’s one of the reasons I can’t take anti-depressants or stimulants otherwise I go manic. But I can eat for comfort so I only have food in the house I’m going to eat according to meal schedules. So I want to try the DPA.

Here is my feedback: I have not seen DPA to be an issue with bipolar disorder and it’s fabulous when you are a comfort-eater. If you have bipolar disorder and are on medications, it’s always advised to discuss new supplements with your prescribing doctor. You can share that DPA is not on the list of amino acids that have precautions with bipolar disorder.

I would not recommend the use of DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) with bipolar disorder because some of this increases dopamine (which can trigger a manic state).

Kristie is doing a benzodiazepine taper and would like to use DPA:

I am currently going through a benzo taper & there are numerous wonderful products that I am unable to mix with benzos. Would this be safe for me?

This is my feedback: I have not had issues with DPA with clients who are doing a benzo taper and there are no documented contraindications. DPA can help with some of the emotional blunting caused by benzos and the emotional fragility we often see during a benzo taper. I know some of the great benzo support groups say not to use GABA but I find it very helpful when tapering too.

The medication question is a common one. Someone else described her depression as weepy and is using the SSRI. There are also no documented contraindications when using DPA with a SSRI. But again, best to discuss with the prescribing doctor.

Arleen has a question about blood pressure and the DPA product I recommend (Lidtke Endorphigen):

1) Is this product gluten free and 2) What effect if any would it have on blood pressure (mine is naturally low)

Here is my feedback: Lidtke Endorphigen is gluten-free and I have not seen it or other DPA products to be an issue with low blood pressure.

Jan wants to use GABA and DPA. She asks:

Can I use Gaba 125mg and also take DPA? Would either offset the other?

If someone has low GABA symptoms and GABA helps with the physcal anxiety and they also have low endorphin symptoms and DPA helps then they are absolutely fine to use together and even at the same time. However, I have clients trial one at a time in order to find the ideal dose and so you know how each one is working.

Resources if you are new to using the amino acids as supplements

If you are new to using any of the amino acids as supplements, here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The Antianxiety Food Solution (you can see all the symptoms of neurotransmitter imbalances, including low endorphins).

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control, sugar cravings, self-medicating with alcohol and more.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so as mentioned above, this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs.

As mentioned above, Lidtke Endorphigen is the DPA product I’ve had the most success with (and it can be found in my online store). Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine is also a good product.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA Quickstart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. There are many moms in the program who are having much success with their kids.

You can then use this knowledge to then trial DPA and other amino acids or move on to the Amazing Aminos for Anxiety Program and get help there.

Have you used DPA with success and if yes how has it helped?

If you’re a practitioner, do you use DPA with your clients/patients?

If you have questions please share them here too.