Nutrition in Neuroscience Part 2 | Mastering Nutrition #41

Nutrition in Neuroscience Part 2 | Mastering Nutrition #41

Author: Chris Masterjohn, PhD June 9, 2022 Duration: 1:39:04
Part 2 of how NUTRITION has a HUGE impact on your BRAIN!

Everything in your brain is something you ate, something you made from something you ate, or, in a few cases, something your mother ate. Nutrition impacts your mental and emotional health, the function of your five senses, and your conscious and unconscious control over your body movements.

Join me as I lead you in a safari through the textbook, "Neuroscience," pointing out along the way all the interesting connections to nutrition. Listen in for part 2 on the NEUROTRANSMITTERS!
  • 0:00:37     Cliff Notes
  • 0:04:15     Overview of neurotransmitters
  • 0:06:55     Glutamate is the primary excitatory neurotransmitter.
  • 0:14:08      De novo glutamate in the central nervous system is overwhelmingly made from glucose.
  • 0:16:55     Ketogenic diet for epilepsy
  • 0:20:12    Glutamate metabolism
  • 0:23:42    There are two classes of glutamate receptors: ionotropic and metabotropic.
  • 0:24:45     There are three classes of metabotropic glutamate receptors, their actions are complex and variable, and they can be excitatory or inhibitory.
  • 0:25:05     The ionotropic glutamate receptors include AMPA receptors, NMDA receptors, and kainite receptors, all of which have a depolarizing effect by allowing sodium and potassium to flow freely through them.
  • 0:27:47     Four unique things about the NMDA receptor: magnesium is required to block its ion channel, it's important for coincidence detection, it allows calcium to come into the cell, and it has a glycine-binding site.
  • 0:33:16     Long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) are important for forming memories, and glutamate receptors play an important role.
  • 0:40:48     GABA and glycine are the two primary inhibitory neurotransmitters of the central nervous system.
  • 0:44:04     GABA and presumably glycine can be stimulatory if there is more chloride on the inside of the neuron than the outside.
  • 0:48:53     Evidence that GABA might cross the blood-brain barrier
  • 0:51:44     GABA in foods
  • 0:54:14     GABA metabolism in the nervous system
  • 0:56:08     Glycine
  • 1:02:02     Acetylcholine
  • 1:07:50     The biogenic amines include histamine, serotonin, and the catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine).
  • 1:08:30     Synthesis of the catecholamines
  • 1:10:46     Dopamine
  • 1:14:08     Norepinephrine
  • 1:16:32     Histamine
  • 1:20:15     Serotonin
  • 1:23:10     ATP and adenosine
  • 1:26:38     Peptide neurotransmitters
  • 1:27:00     Hypothalamic releasing hormones include thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).
  • 1:29:15     Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)
  • 1:29:32     Oxytocin
  • 1:30:18     Vasopressin
  • 1:30:57     Synthesis of the neuropeptides Substance P, MSH, oxytocin, and vasopressin requires glycine, zinc, copper, and vitamin C.
  • 1:34:24     Endocannabinoids and the importance of arachidonic acid, EPA, and DHA
Nutrition in Neuroscience Related Content
Chris Masterjohn Lite: Does Glycine or GABA Wake You Up?
Chris Masterjohn Lite: Carbs or Keto for Sleep?
Chris Masterjohn Lite: How to Manage Your Magnesium Status
Chris Masterjohn Lite: Get Better Sleep With Glycine
Start Here for Methylation has glycine and choline resources, and covers the methylation process used in the synthesis and degradation of biogenic amines.

Testing Nutritional Status: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet is a comprehensive guide for testing nutritional status for all the nutrients discussed in this episode, and more. Use the code MASTERINGNUTRITION for $5 OFF.

Nutrition in Neuroscience Research
The textbook, Neuroscience.

Relaxation and immunity enhancement effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) administration in humans. on the use of GABA for fear of heights and to alter anxiety- and focus-related brain waves.

Desarrollo de un pan de masa madre rico en GABA y péptidos IECA contains a table on the GABA content of foods on page 84 of the PDF.

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor from plants on the different plants containing natural acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Method to Screen for α-Amidated Peptides on the neuropeptides that require glycine, vitamin C, copper, and zinc for their biological activity.

Effects of copper occupancy on the conformational landscape of peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase also on the neuropeptides that require glycine, vitamin C, copper, and zinc for their biological activity.
 

Access the show notes, transcript, and comments here:

https://chrismasterjohnphd.substack.com/p/054-nutrition-in-neuroscience-part

Chris Masterjohn, PhD, is the Founder and Scientific Director of the mitochondria test Mitome.


Chris Masterjohn, PhD hosts Mastering Nutrition, a podcast that digs into the science of how our bodies work at a fundamental level. The focus here is on mitochondrial health-the energy powerhouses within our cells-and how optimizing them forms the cornerstone of lasting vitality. Chris brings his background as a nutrition scientist and his experience founding BioOptHealth to these conversations, which move beyond generic diet advice. Instead, the podcast explores how individual differences, informed by tools like whole genome sequencing and detailed biochemical data, can reveal personalized paths to better metabolic function. Listeners will hear deep dives into cutting-edge research, practical interpretations of complex studies, and discussions on how to apply these insights in a real-world context. This isn't about quick fixes or trending superfoods; it's about building a coherent, scientifically-grounded understanding of nutrition from the cellular level up. Each episode aims to provide the kind of nuanced, evidence-based perspective that can help you make sense of conflicting health information. Whether the topic is a specific nutrient, a metabolic pathway, or a broader principle of wellness, Chris works to translate dense science into actionable knowledge. Tune in for a thoughtful, detailed exploration of what it truly means to master your own nutritional landscape.
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