Quinolinic acid (QUIN) is a potent neurotoxin and impacts brain function.  When microbial infection of the brain occurs, a type of macrophage called a microglia, become more active.  Once activated, these cells proliferate and produce upregulated quantities of quinolinic acid (QUIN), the levels of which can be much higher in the central nervous system and brain than is revealed on blood tests.  Blood tests for QUIN can be done, but keep in mind that a normal serum blood level may not mean that you don’t have elevated levels in the brain or CNS.  High levels of QUIN have been found in Parkinsonism, Huntington’s, Alzheimer’s, and AIDS.   

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) Q further increase the detrimental effects of QUIN.  The combination of ROS and QUIN result in up to 80% neuronal (brain cells) loss in the hippocampus.  Interestingly, hippocampus damage has been found in many cases of CFIDS and Lyme.  The levels of QUIN in neuroborreliosis are in the lower range of the levels found in AIDS infections. 

Recent research by Ritchie Shoemaker, MD has shown elevated levels of QUIN in the brain for those effected by a Biotoxin-related illness (Lyme is biotoxin related, and so are many cases of CFIDS).   Some cases of CFIDS are thought to be virally-related, and a viral infection of the brain will also cause elevated QUIN levels.  In “Healing Lyme”, by Stephen Buhner, there is a section on QUIN and neuroborreliosis which also substantiates this model for Lyme infections.

So how does this fit for me?  My blood tests for QUIN have been shown to be elevated since I first began feeling poorly.  I also responded to, and felt much better with high pretty high doses of a powerful antioxidant (Oasis Xtra) .  This would also make sense, since the antioxidants quench the free-radical ROS molecules, which in turn de-potentiates the QUIN. This seems to be a big part of the brain fog and malaise that I used to experience.