Scientists identify amino acid that stops seizures in mice

An amino acid whose role in the body has been all but a mystery appears to act as a potent seizure inhibitor in mice, according to a study. In a series of experiments, the amino acid D-leucine, found in many foods and certain bacteria, interrupted prolonged seizures, a serious condition known as status epilepticus, and it did so just as effectively as the epilepsy drug diazepam -- the choice of treatment for patients in the throes of convulsions -- but without any of the drug's sedative side eff...