Impact of plasma transaminase levels on the peripheral blood glutamate levels and memory functions in healthy subjects.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels are the most frequently reliable biomarkers of liver injury. Although AST and ALT play central roles in glutamate production as transaminases, peripheral blood levels of AST and ALT have been regarded only as liver injury biomarkers. Glutamate is a principal excitatory neurotransmitter, which affects memory functions in the brain. In this study, we investigated the impact of blood transaminase levels on blood glutamate concentration and memory.

Methods

Psychiatrically, medically, and neurologically healthy subjects (n = 514, female/male: 268/246) were enrolled in this study through local advertisements. Plasma amino acids (glutamate, glutamine, glycine, d-serine, and l-serine) were

SUBMITTER: Kamada Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4802405 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature