:Serine:

Function: Potentiator of madness.

Serine is a nonessential amino acid derived from glycine. Like all the amino acid building blocks of protein and peptides, serine can become essential under certain conditions, and is thus important in maintaining health and preventing disease.

Low-average concentration of serine compared to other amino acids is found in muscle. Serine is highly concentrated in all cell membranes.
A high serine to cysteine plasma ratio is a potential clinical marker for psychosis which corresponds to pyroluria as a marker for vitamin B 6and zinc-dependent psychosis. Many poor-quality foods, such as luncheon meats and sausage, are high in serine. Foods which cause cerebral allergy, e.g., gluten, soy and peanuts, are also high in serine. Serine supplements may cause such adverse effects as psychotic episodes and possibly elevated blood pressure.

Low serine levels can occur in hypertensive patients, and high serine levels can occur in allergy patients. Applications of this knowledge to treatment are under way.

Serine is also immunosuppressive, which makes it a harmful agent in cancer patients but potentially useful in autoimmune diseases. A serine analog (threo-serine) and L-serine as well, may raise blood pressure. A role for serine may develop in pain relief, but at present serine supplementation has no proper therapeutic purpose.

The Princeton Brain Bio Center finds a high serine to cysteine plasma ratio as a potential clinical marker for psychosis, which corresponds to pyroluria as a marker for vitamin B 6and zinc-dependent psychosis. Many poor-quality foods, such as luncheon meats and sausage, are high in serine. Foods which cause cerebral allergy, e.g., gluten, soy and peanuts, are also high in serine. Serine supplements may cause such adverse effects as psychotic episodes and possibly elevated blood pressure.

D-serine should be tested as an antipsychotic agent.