A uniquely formulated amino acid supplement, My AminoPlex™ was developed after extensive amino acid testing and research. This version is the "unflavored" kind with no citrus. It has a number of important co-factors (P-5-P, magnesium, folic acid, and zinc), which are critical in the proper metabolism of amino acids. View My AminoPlex label (*unflavored version does not have citrus or flavors/sweeteners) HERE...
Serving Size 5 grams:
Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxal 5 phosphate).......9.5 mg
Folic Acid.......800 mcg
Zinc (zinc alpha-ketoglutarate).......10 mg
Alpha-ketoglutarate.......200 mg
5 HTP.......15 mg
Magnesium (as glycinate).......5.4 mg
Amino blend (from collagen & added sources).......3910 mg
Amino blend from the following:
I-alanine.......374 mg
I-arginine.......260 mg
I-aspartic acid.......212 mg
I-glutamic acid.......358 mg
I-glycine.......653 mg
I-histidine.......102 mg
I-isoleucine.......133 mg
I-leucine.......173 mg
I-lysine.......168 mg
I-methionine.......233 mg
I-phenylalanine.......180 mg
I-proline.......291 mg
I-serine.......114 mg
I-threonine.......200 mg
I-tyrosine.......16 mg
I-valine.......182 mg
l-glutamine.......126 mg
l-taurine.......135 mg
Other Ingredients:
Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Silicon Dioxide.
This product contains NO yeast, sugar, wheat gluten, soy protein, milk/dairy, corn, starch, artificial coloring, preservatives or flavoring.
Suggested Use:
As a dietary supplement, adults take 5g (1 teaspoon) in 1 cup juice or water, 1-2 times daily or as directed by a health care practitioner.
Amino acids are the major component of most cells. Their functions range from transport and regulation of neural signals, neurotransmitters, muscle activity, formation of ligaments, tendons, bones as well as hormone production.
While the typical American diet should provide all the essential amino acids, impaired digestion, poor gut flora, and environmental factors may greatly increase the need for a high quality amino acid supplement. Acute stress can also result in both increased demand and accelerated protein breakdown. It is exactly for these reasons My AminoPlex™ was formulated.
Ideally, sufficient dietary intake of amino acids, in the correct ratio's, in the presence of sufficient vitamins and minerals, without any disease processes will result in enough protein for optimal health. This is a rare occurrence in modern society. My AminoPlex™ contains all of the essential amino acids in a carefully balanced array.
A common misconception is that all we need is the essential amino acids and the body will naturally produce all of the rest on its own. This may be true with a healthy person in a healthy environment but again, this is not all that common. Arginine, Taurine, Alpha Keto Glutarate, Glutamine, and Glycine are 5 "non-essential" amino acids added to My AminoPlex™ that extensive research has determined are important additions.
Another issue important in the proper metabolism and utilization of amino acids is the co-factors which help the body manufacture not only other amino acids, but hormones, neurotransmitters, muscle, DNA and RNA. These nutrients include Magnesium, B6 (in the form of Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate), Folic Acid and Zinc, all of which are found in My AminoPlex™ in balanced amounts.
Testimonials
"My AminoPlex is the first great tasting, easy to mix amino acid that I found. Patient's love it! One of my six-year old ADHD patient's asks for it daily. He calls it his "brain food." His mom says it helps him stay focused at school and at home. As a weight loss/liver detox aid, I found it extremely valuable for many of my patients. They add it to their water bottle and sip it through the day. I am grateful for its development."
—Margaret Merrifield, M.D.
"While virtually all of my clients who have used My AminoPlex have made significant progress, some have made truly astounding improvement. The results observed in chronic illness cases have far surpassed my expectations. Additionally, ease of using My AminoPlex lends itself well to client compliance.
—Anna Salanti, R.N.
Amino Acids
What do they do?
How do they apply to ASD?
What do I do with this information?
Glycine
- Simplest yet most versatile amino acid
- Conjugation of toxins
- Precursor to glutathione
- Conversion to Serine then on to phosphytidalserine (a neurotransmitter)
- 1/3 of the amino is in collagen
- Wound healer
- Important in blood sugar control
Glycine
- Glycine is so important in neurological function
- Glycine accumulates around seizure sites as a protector
- Has been used to treat manic depression
- Helpful with muscle spasticity
- Helps immunity
Glycine
Glycine
- Numerous forms
- DMG—Dimethylglycine
- TMG—Trimethylglycine
- Numerous forms
Building block of methionine, choline, acetylcholine, hormones and DNA.
- Assists in the methylation process.
- May increase stimming, aggression, hyperactivity.
Glycine
- Best supplementation regime may simply be to add 500 mg to 1,000 mg for a child under 60 lbs
- Older children—2 grams daily
- Adults—2-5 grams daily
- No serious side effects have been seen in doses up to 60 grams daily.
Tryptophan
- Tryptophan is what is known as an essential amino acid. It must be ingested through food or supplements, the body cannot make it.
- Serves as a precursor to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter.
- 10% of L-tryptophan is converted to serotonin.
Tryptophan
- Many ASD children show:
- Low plasma tryptophan
- High 5-hydroxyindolacetate (5-HIAA) in urine
- Has been shown to aid in the control of depression
- Lowers aggressive behavior, anxiety, pain, and regulates appetite.
Tryptophan
Tryptophan
- L-Tryptophan is only available through prescription—this may be a good thing!
- Abnormal metabolism of L-tryptophan may lead to the production of kynuric acid, xanthurinate, and quinolinate.
- Quinolinate is a compound that can antagonize NMDA receptors in the brain.
Tryptophan
- Quinolinate elevations may be implicated in aggressive behavior, increase seizure activity, and irritability.
- It is somewhat reduced by B6 supplementation (in the form of P-5-P) or vitamin E.
- Since it is produced by the action of macrophages on tryptophan, finding and reducing both the inflammatory and infectious causes is critical.
Tryptophan
- Supplementation, when needs are determined through proper laboratory testing, through the use of 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is safest.
- 50 mg 1-2 times a day for small children and up to 500 mg for adults and larger children.
- Careful monitoring under the supervision of a health care practitioner is recommended.
- Side effects may include gastric irritation, vomiting and head twitching.
Taurine
- A beta-amino acid that needs to be synthesized in the body requiring cysteine and B6.
- Considered non-essential yet many ASD children seem to have a very difficult time producing adequate amounts.
- Has many diverse biological functions in the body.
Taurine
- Is found in every cell and in great quantities throughout the body including the liver, kidney, pituitary, thymus, adrenals, digestive tract, and most concentrated in the nervous system and the brain.
- In the developing brain it is the most abundant amino acid, and in the adult, second behind glutamic acid.
Taurine
- ↓ taurine suggests excess oxidative damage
- Chronic deficiency results in extreme sensitivity to environmental allergens (universal reactor)
- A key component of bile, ↓ taurine can result in problems with fat digestion, ↓ fat soluble vitamins, and ↑ cholesterol.
Taurine
- ↓ taurine contributes to a host of cardiovascular and neurological problems.
- ↓ taurine increases platelet aggregation.
- Beta-agonist drugs reduce stores of taurine.
- Taurine requires a proper electrolyte balance to effectively cross the blood-brain barrier.
Taurine
- This may be one of the safest supplements known.
- Doses as high as 5-10 grams daily have had no reported side effects.
- Young children—try 500 mgs to 1 gram daily. Older children 1-3 grams daily.
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Citric Acid Cycle promoters
- Protein building units
- Peptide hormones (Insulin, ...)
- Neurotransmitters (catecholamines, serotonin)
- Neuromodulators (arginine, taurine)
- Precursors of bile acids (taurine)
- Immune function support
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Regulation of muscular activity
- Transmission and control of neural signals
- Hormonal synthesis and regulation
- Nutrient transport mechanisms
- Ligament, tendon and bone matrix formation
- Enzyme functions
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Acetylcholine ← methionine, glycine, serine
- GABA ← glutamic acid
- Dopamine, norepinephrine ← tyrosine, phenylalanine
- Serotonin ← tryptophan
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Composition of dietary protein
- Protein digestion
- Assimilation & utilization
- enzyme cofactors
- tissue dependency
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Dietary protein restriction
- HCl insufficiency
- Gastric and pancreatic enzyme deficiency
- Hormonal regulation of secretory processes
- Stress demands (↑ protein breakdown)
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Essential Amino Acids
- Arginine, Histidine, Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Tryptophan, Valine
- Neuroendocrine Metabolism
- GABA, Glycine, Serine, Taurine, Tyrosine
- Ammonia/Energy Metabolism
- A-Aminoadipic Acid, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, Citrulline, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Ornithine
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Sulfur Metabolism
- Cystine, Cystathione, Homocystine
- Glucose Synthesis
- Primary: Alanine, Glycine, Serine
- Secondary: All the rest
- Creatine
- Tissue Protein Synthesis
- All of the 20 essentials and non-essentials
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- DNA/RNA
- Primary: Aspartic acid
- Secondary: Glutamine, Glycine
- Neurotransmitter Synthesis
- Glutamic acid, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan, Serine
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
Deficiency Signs
- Slow growth (children); poor wound healing
- Attention deficit disorders
- Chronic fatigue
- Emotional disorders
- Loss of mental energy
- Immune suppression
- Night blindness
- Infertility and impotence
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
Improvements Seen In
- Childhood development
- Behavior disorders (ADD)
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Addiction(s)
- Depression
- Bipolar disorder
- Chronic fatigue
- Obesity
- Multiple food sensitivity
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- The optimal way to get amino acids would be through protein rich foods.
- This is a problem if your child has poor digestion.
- If they don't like foods that are rich in protein.
- What is a parent to do???
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Find an amino acid supplement which is not food based (whey, soy or dairy).
- Find one that has all the essential amino acids and at least some of the conditional ones.
- Find one in a powdered state which can be added to water or juice or can be encapsulated.
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Metabolic Maintenance is one source although it does not contain many co-factors and does not contain Glycine, taurine and glutamine in its base.
- KTS Products is another which contains a number of co-factors and the aforementioned amino acids.
- Both can be customized to your child's chemistry through laboratory testing.
- An Amino Acid Plasma40, 20 or Fingerstick Amino Acid test are the recommended tests.
Broad Spectrum Amino Acids
- Urine Amino Acids are not helpful in determining a customized blend.
- Customized blends seem to work better and faster in balancing amino acid plasma levels.
- Either a customized or base blend is essential to providing these basic building blocks.
Sucralose–Separating Fact from Fiction:
There has been a debate over the safety of a new sugar substitute on the market, Sucralose a.k.a. Splenda®. This paper is designed to help the reader better understand the arguments for and against this artificial sweetener.
Let’s look at some of the claims against sucralose first:
- Shrunken thymus glands (up to 40% shrinkage)
- Only 19 studies on the sweetener exist
- Correlating sucralose to chlorinated pesticides
- Absorption and metabolism of sucralose
- High levels of contaminants
- No post-approval monitoring
1. The problem with the claim that sucralose shrinks the thymus gland is when you read the study you find that “atrophy of the lymph follicles in the spleen and thymus was observed in the 50,000 ppm group.” The ones fed sucralose at 10,000 and 25,000 ppm did not show this effect. Also, only one toxicologist, Judith Bellin, has disputed the manufacturer’s claims that the effect seen at 50,000 ppm was due to starvation and not from the sucralose. The evidence suggests starvation due to the high intake of sucralose by the laboratory animals.
2. This is blatantly misleading. In the FDA Talk Paper of April 1, 1998 – T98-16, the paper says the following, “In determining the safety of sucralose, FDA reviewed data from more than 110 studies in humans and animals.” To the websites credit, they do indicate that this was the number of studies determined by a MEDLINE search but the problem is that not all studies are reported through this manner so the information he uses is misleading.
3. Comparing sucralose to chlorinated pesticides is a reach at best. A number of PhD chemists we spoke to strongly disagreed with the connection between pesticides and sucralose.
4. There is a claim of high absorption of sucralose of up to 40%. To begin with, since sucralose is 600 times sweeter than sugar, far less needs to be used to gain the same sweetening effect so if absorption is even as high as claimed the amount is miniscule. Second, the preponderance of the literature suggests that sucralose is not absorbed readily in the gut. Most studies admit a 15% passive absorption of sucralose in the G.I. tract but one must remember the minute amounts being used to put this issue in perspective and that much of what has been absorbed is excreted in the urine unchanged. Some argue that intestinal bacteria in the gut (mostly pathogenic) metabolize sucralose but according to Farhadi A, et al, “bacteria metabolized lactulose and acidified the media but did not metabolize sucralose or mannitol.”
5. The argument that high levels of contaminants were found in sucralose is somewhat misleading. The contaminants found in sucralose are similar to many foods we use without question. We live in a contaminated environment which we believe is a major contributor to our many health problems, but you have to be realistic in the review of what is and is not significant. In a perfect world, there would be no need to use a sweetener, but we do not live in one. When trying to mask the bitter and highly objectionable taste of an amino acid complex, compromises are necessary. After careful consideration and an honest review of the literature, sucralose seemed to be the safest and best choice.
The fact that sucralose is produced at an approximate purity of 98% and therefore the rest must be dangerous is conjecture also and a biased interpretation of the literature. The added comment that, “Although manufacturing guidelines do specify limits on these substances there is no guarantee that such limits will always be met.” is a Chicken Little argument. Not every manufacturer is evil and wanting to get away with something. Yes, there are unscrupulous companies, especially when it comes to NutraSweet®, but you cannot make a linear correlation every time something new comes along.
6. The site argues that there is no post approval monitoring. Curious that one of the links provided from the website, the Sucralose Toxicity Information Center, claims that “A possible problem with casecal enlargement and renal mineralization has been seen in post approval animal research.” (my italics) There are currently numerous ongoing studies around the world being published on research relating to the potential harmful effects of sucralose. This is another example of a misleading comment. Baird IM, Shephard NW, Merritt RJ, Hildick-Smith G conducted a human study on different doses of sucralose and found no side effects after approval was granted.
A Report from the Joint Subcommittee on Toxicity and Food Additives concerning the Designation of Food Additices and the Revision of Standards for Use under the Food Sanitation Council, January 6, 1999.
Farhadi A, Keshavarzian A, Holmes EW, Fields J, Zhang L, Banan A., Gas chromatographic method for detection of urinary sucralose: application to the assessment of intestinal permeability., J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2003 Jan 25;784(1):145-54.
Baird IM, Shephard NW, Merritt RJ, Hildick-Smith G., Repeated dose study of sucralose tolerance in human subjects., Food Chem Toxicol 2000;38 Suppl 2:S123-9.
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