Glutamic Acid

Meat and vegetables

Glutamic acid facts

  • Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid
  • Glutamic acid functions as a building block of protein in the body
  • Glutamic acid is created from a number of other amino acids
  • Glutamic acid is a part of folic acid
  • Glutamic acid can be converted into GABA
  • Glutamic acid is closely related to glutamine
  • Monosodium glutamate is a form of glutamic acid


Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid, which means the body can metabolise (or make) it from the essential amino acids. It is not necessarily required in high levels in the diet.

Glutamic acid, just like all the other amino acids, is one of the building blocks of all proteins in the body, which not only include muscles, but also all the other proteins required for normal function of the body.

The body is able to manufacture glutamic acid from a number of other amino acids in the body, including ornithine and arginine.

Glutamic acid is a part of the folic acid molecule, so as long as there is adequate folic acid intake, the body should not be deficit in glutamic acid.

Glutamic acid is able to be converted into GABA (an inhibitory neurotransmitter), by the body, if all the co-factors required for this process are available.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a type of glutamic acid, which is different from pure glutamic acid (or glutamate). MSG has been used as a flavour enhancer in food production for many years, but it has always been surrounded by controversy, with many people reporting a variety of side effects from foods with MSG.

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