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L-Tryptophan - Wikipedia,
the free encyclopedia
Differential Behavioral Effects of Plasma L-Tryptophan Depletion and Loading
in Aggressive and Nonaggressive Men
Metabolism of L-L-Tryptophan to kynurenate and quinolinate in the central
nervous system: effects of 6-chloroL-Tryptophan and
4-chloro-3-hydroxyanthranilate.
Fibromyalgia and serotonin
Serotonin in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Townsend Letter for
Doctors and Patients - Find Articles
L-tryptophan in the treatment of impaired respiration in sleep.
Role of
tryptophan supplementation in the treatment of chlamydia | Cpnhelp.org -
Chlamydia Pneumoniae Treatment
TRYPTOPHAN NO TURKEY IN BOOSTING IMMUNE SYSTEM, STANFORD STUDY SHOWS -
Office of Communications & Public Affairs - Stanford University School of
Medicine |
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L-Tryptophan is one
of 20 essential amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be made
inside the body and therefore must be supplied in the diet or through
supplements.
L-Tryptophan is a pre-curser to serotonin (a nuerotransmitter),
melatonin (a
neurohormone) and niacin (also known as nicotinic acid or vitamin
B3). Dietary L-Tryptophan is converted to niacin in the body.
Serotonin is a nuerotransmitter that helps control functions related to mood, behavior, appetite and
sleep. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that carry messages from nerve
cells to other cells. Melatonin is a hormone manufactured from serotonin. It
regulates the human biological clock. The human biological clock
(circadian rhythm) signals the secretion of various hormones at certain
times in order to regulate body functions.
L-Tryptophan is known to be safe because it has been used in the research field for decades as a control when
testing other drugs. One should not take L-Tryptophan with other
medications or supplements that alter serotonin without the supervision of
a medical professional. Please see warnings below for further
information.
It is now available over the counter again but during the 1990's it was
pulled by the FDA and banned for use. It turned out that the
problems associated with L-Tryptophan were related to one product
manufacturer who produced a single contaminated batch. Some think
that the FDA over-reacted in part due to influence from pharmaceutical
companies whose anti-depressant drugs were in direct competition with
tyrptophan.
Adequate amounts of vitamin B6, vitamin C, folic acid and
magnesium are needed for the formation of tryptophan.11
Anxiety
Some people get relief of anxiety with supplementation of
L-tryptophan. A study that induced L-tryptophan depletion concluded
that females tend to show anxiety as a result of depletion.10
Blood Sugar
L-Tryptophan decreases cravings for carbohydrates.
Carbohydrates convert to sugar and thus, eating less carbohydrates will
help control blood sugars.
Depression
L-Tryptophan is well-known to help relieve depression because
it increases serotonin. Serotonin helps alleviate depression and
related disorders such as PMS (premenstrual syndrome). Unlike
antidepressant drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
that only preserve the amounts of serotonin already in circulation,
L-Tryptophan actually changes into additional serotonin.
Pain
L-Tryptophan has been shown to decrease pain sensitivity.6
In a double blind study, L-Tryptophan (500 mg every four hours) taken the
day before a dental procedure significantly decreased the pain intensity
experienced by patients.7 In a preliminary trial, 3 grams of
L-Tryptophan taken daily for four weeks significantly decreased pain in
people with chronic jaw pain.8 In another study on pain
tolerance levels were significantly higher in the group receiving
tryptophan.
Sleep
L-Tryptophan helps initiate sleep because it raises
serotonin. L-Tryptophan is effective for insomnia.4
Increasing L-Tryptophan may help to normalize sleep patterns.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
A review of articles found by searching eight
medical search engines looking for information regarding pain and CFS,
concluded that some researchers theorize that L-Tryptophan may be related to
pain in CFS.3
In one study designed to measure L-Tryptophan availability to the brain of
CFS patients, two sub-groups were identified, one with normal serotonin
levels and the other with a high serotonin status.4
Anyone with a diagosis of CFS should be cautious when supplementing with
L-Tryptophan until more is known about the relationship between L-Tryptophan
and CFS.
Additional reading:
Serotonin in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Fibromyalgia Townsend Letter for
Doctors and Patients - Find Articles
Fibromyalgia
Animal and human studies show a relationship between
reduced brain serotonin metabolism and pain reactivity. Plasma-free
L-Tryptophan is shown to be inversely related to the severity of pain in a
small group of patients who fulfilled fibromyalgia criteria in this older
study.5
Additional reading:
Wong: Fibromyalgia, Depression, Sleep Disorder, Overeating
Lyme
Infections in the brain can cause more quinolinic acid to be produced. Lyme
causes elevated quinolinic acid.
Neuroactive kynurenines
in Lyme borreliosis. [Neurology. 1992] - PubMed Result
Quinolinic acid is a metabolite of tryptophan and it
appears that in the presence of CNS inflammation, tryptophan may be
converted to quinolinic acid. If you have lyme disease, please use
tryptophan with caution.
A mechanism of quinolinic acid formation by brain ...[Brain. 1993] -
PubMed Result
Other information:
Neopterin production and L-Tryptophan degradation in acute Lyme
neuroborreliosis versus late Lyme encephalopathy.
Tryptophan metabolism - Borrelia burgdorferi
Aids
Tryptophan Metabolism in
Chronic Disease and AIDS
In cell cultures, L-Tryptophan depletion has been found to be the mechanism
by which IFN-gamma acts against replication of such parasites as
Toxoplasma gondii, Chlamydia trachomatia and Clamydia psittaci.
Supplemental L-Tryptophan reverses this inhibition [Brown, et al., 1991].
As alternatives to L-Tryptophan, 5-hydroxyL-Tryptophan (5-HTP), serotonin, N-acetylserotonin
and melatonin may be used to fortify the serotonergic nervous system.
Tryptophan supplementation is not advised due to a
potential increase in circulating concentrations of neurotoxic
intermediates.
Tryptophan depletion and HIV infection: a metaboli...[Lancet Infect Dis.
2003] - PubMed Result
High-dose niacin in the form of oral nicotinamide may be a
safe way to increase plasma tryptophan.
Increased plasma tryptophan in HIV-infected patien...[Nutrition. 2001
Jul-Aug] - PubMed Result
Dietary Sources of Tryptophan:
Brown rice, cottage cheese, meat, peanuts and soy nuts.
Warnings:
Too much L-Tryrptophan can cause headaches, sinus congestion
or constipation.1 It is thought that
L-Tryptophan may worsen migraine headaches..2
L-Tryptophan should not be taken with any other medications that increase
serotonin in the brain without supervision from a qualified medical
practioner due to the risk of a serious problem called serotonin syndrome.
Serotonin syndrome is caused by an excess amount of serotonin in the
brain. It is rare but can be life threatening so anything that
increases serotonin should be taken with caution especially if combined
with other medications or supplements that alter serotonin.
This is not an all inclusive list but medications and supplements that
alter serotonin are:
L-Tryptophan increase serotonin synthesis
MAOIs decrease serotonin metabolism
SSRI's a class of anti-depressants that increase serotonin release;
inhibit serotonin uptake ; and stimulate certain serotonin receptors
Possible symptoms of serotonin syndrome include mental confusion,
hypomania, hallucinations, agitation, headache, coma, shivering, sweating,
fever, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, myoclonus/clonus
(muscle twitching), hyperreflexia, tremor.
Before taking any supplements, consult with your
health care provider. This information is not intended
to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We do not accept
any responsibility for the accuracy of the information or the consequences
arising from the application, use, or misuse of any of the information
contained herein.
References
1. Durk Pearson and Sandy Shaw, "Life
Extension, A practical scientific approach", Warner Books
2. Skye Liniger, D.C., Editor in Chief, Jonathan Wright, M.D., Steve
Austin, N.D., Donald Brown, N.D., Alan Gaby, M.D. "The Natural Pharmacy",
pg 91
3. Meeus M, Nijs J, Meirleir KD., "Chronic musculoskeletal pain in
patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome: A systematic review.", Eur J
Pain. 2006 Jul 12; [Epub ahead of print]
Entrez PubMed
4. Badawy AA, Morgan CJ, Llewelyn MB, Albuquerque SR, Farmer A.,
"Heterogeneity of serum L-Tryptophan concentration and availability to the
brain in patients with the chronic fatigue syndrome", J
Psychopharmacol. 2005 Jul;19(4):385-91
Entrez PubMed
5.Moldofsky H, Warsh JJ., "Plasma L-Tryptophan and musculoskeletal pain in
non-articular rheumatism ("fibrositis syndrome")", Pain. 1978
Jun;5(1):65-71..
Entrez PubMed
6. Leiberman HR, Corkin S, Spring RJ, et al., "Mood, performance and
pain sensitivity: changes induced by food constituents" J Psychiatr
Res 1982;17:135–45.
Entrez PubMed
7. Shpeen SE, Morse DR, Furst ML. "The effect of L-Tryptophan on
post-operative endodontic pain." Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol 1984;58:
446–9.
Entrez PubMed
8. Seltzer S, Dewart D, Pollack RL, Jackson E., "The effects of
dietary Tryptophan on chronic maxillofacial pain and experimental pain
tolerance.", J Psychiatr Res 1982–83;17(2):185–6.
Entrez PubMed
9. Seltzer S, Stoch R, Marcus R, Jackson E., "Alteration of human
pain thresholds by nutritional manipulation and L-tryptophan
supplementation.", Pain. 1982 Aug;13(4):385-93.
Entrez PubMed
10.Monteiro-dos-Santos PC, Graeff FG, dos-Santos JE, Ribeiro RP, Guimaraes
FS, Zuardi AW., "Effects of tryptophan depletion on anxiety induced by
simulated public speaking.", Braz J Med Biol Res. 2000
May;33(5):581-7
Entrez PubMed
11. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC,
"Prescription for Nutritional Healing, A
practical A-To-Z Reference to Drug-Free Remedies Using Vitamins Minerals,
Herbs and Food Supplements"
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