Here is some info I found about the connection between magnesium, taurine and glutamate. I've been using a magnesium supplement consisting of magnesium aspartate, but by chance read somewhere that this form of magnesium is not good when dealing with anxiety as aspartate is excitorary (It wasn't helping me either).Thought I'd give it a mention in case anyone else is using this type too.

"Like the neurotransmitter, GABA, taurine has a calming effect on the brain, inhibiting the excitation of nerve cells. GABA deficiencies are commonly found in children diagnosed with autism, migraines and/or ADD. Taurine has been shown inhibit the firing of nerve cells and rectifies abnormal concentrations of glutamate. Magnesium also blocks the excito-toxic effects of glutamate. Magnesium plays an important role in the metabolic regulation of taurine and taurine can substitute for magnesium in the presence of magnesium deficiencies.

Both glutamate (found in monosodium glutamte - MSG) and aspartate (found in diet-pop sweetened with aspartame) are excito-toxins that can over-stimulate the firing of nerve cells in children whose brains do not produce enough of the calming neurotransmitter, GABA. It is theorized by some autism researchers that the presence of mercury in the brain can inhibit the production of GABA. When not enough GABA is present, these excito-toxins over-stimulate the nerves, resulting in stunting and/or killing off of nerve cells.

A typical physical reaction to excito-toxins could be a child becoming extremely hyperactive upon ingesting the excito-toxin for several hours, followed by one or more days of lethargy an/or regression. Using the magnesium-taurine complex may help normalize this hyperexcitiability, protecting the brain's nerve cells.

Needless to say, children within the autism spectrum should avoid products that contain excito-toxins, such as (MSG (labelled on foods as MSG, monosodium Glutamate, Modified Food Starch, and can be hidden within the catch-all ingredient, "Natural Flavorings"). Also any foods containing aspartame, such as diet pop should avoided."

Ann <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />