HOW DOES GH3 INHIBIT MAO AS COMPARED TO CLASSICAL MAO INHIBITORS?
Classical MAO inhibitor drugs used in psychiatry (Parnate, Nardil) reduce depression by forming strong covalent bonds with the MAO. In a sense, they form a shell around the MAO and completely disable it. This reduces the metabolism of the serotonin and noreprinepherine but also can be dangerous, since it disables the MAO from performing its other functions. Tyramine is a substrate of MAO (that is, the MAO is there to metabolize it.) Tyramine is present in fermented foods including yogurt and fermented cheeses, as well as in pickles, shellfish and certain wines. If unchecked, it can lead to dangerously high blood pressure. The classical MAO inhibitors stop the metabolization of neurotransmitters but also keep the MAO from doing its job regarding tyramine. Many people on these anti-depressants died before the tyramine effect was understood. Currently, people taking them are on severe dietary restrictions. In contrast, GH3 “gets between” the MAO and the neurotransmitters (according to man
