Amino Acids & Mental Wellness: Bridging Nutrition and Psychiatry

In Functional and Metabolic Psychiatry expert Dr. James Greenblatt will review the exceptional therapeutic utility of amino acids – building blocks of enzymes, neurotransmitters, peptides, and hormones – in the treatment of common mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, OCD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and more.

Dr. Greenblatt will discuss the myriad roles amino acids play in the synthesis of vital enzymes and proteins impacting brain function and digestion. Common factors contributing to amino acid deficiencies will be examined, and the therapeutic benefits of amino acid supplementation to argument neurotransmitter synthesis will be explored. Evidence-based recommendations for testing and supplementation will also be detailed, proving attendees with bench-to-bedside pearls that can be applied immediately in clinical practice to enhance patient outcomes.

Learning Highlights:

• Understand the roles of essential amino acids in neurotransmitter synthesis and digestion.
• Identify dietary and/or biological factors that can contribute to low amino acid levels.
• Define “essential” within the context of nutritional science (e.g., “essential” nutrients).
• Explain why dietary protein intake is not a guarantee of amino acid sufficiency.
• Discuss the neurobehavioral effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion.
• Understand how supplementation with free-form amino acids and digestive enzymes can support patients with mental illness.