Posted 3/16/07 |
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| NAME: | Tryptophan | |
| DESCRIPTION: | Amino acid | |
| FUNCTION: | Tryptophan is necessary for normal growth in infants and for nitrogen balance in adults. It is an essential amino acid, which means your body cannot produce it - you must get it from your diet.
Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin (a neurotransmitter), melatonin (a neurohormone), and niacin; serotonin is thought to promote healthy sleep and a stable mood. In order for tryptophan in the diet to be changed into niacin, there needs to be enough vitamin B-6, riboflavin, and iron in the body. |
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| SOURCES: | Tryptophan is found naturally in: turkey, chicken, milk, cheese, fish, eggs, tofu, soy, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, nuts, bananas, yogurt, and dates. | |
| DOSAGE: | Will vary by product. | |
| DATA: | L-Tryptophan and 5-hydroxy L-tryptophan (5-HTP)were briefly banned by the FDA: in 1989, there was an outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), caused by products from manufacturer Showa Denko K.K. of Japan (who, it turns out, was tinkering with genetic engineering and looking for ways to cut costs in the purification process). The ban on the sale of (but not import of) tryptophan was lifted in 2001, but the whole incident is controversial: some feel that the FDA's handling of this accident unfairly favored the pharmaceutical industry and the new antidepressant Prozac - whose media launch came just four days after the ban. Both affect seratonin levels, albeit in different ways; both are used to treat depression.
Clinical research has tended to confirm tryptophan's effectiveness both as a natural sleep aid and for a growing variety of other conditions typically associated with low serotonin levels or activity in the brain. Typtophan has shown considerable promise as an antidepressant, and as an "augmenter" of antidepressant drugs. Other promising indications included relief of chronic pain and reduction of compulsive behaviors and disorders. |
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| CAUTIONS: | Before taking tryptophan, tell your doctor if you have: peptic (stomach) ulcer disease; liver disease; kidney disease, or a blood (platelet) disorder. Due to a lack of data, pregnant or nursing women should not take tryptophan. |
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| FOR MORE INFORMATION: |
See DATA above for links to past FDA controversy. | |
| RELATED PRODUCTS: |
L-Tryptophan (Source Naturals) Each bottle, 30 tablets. Each tablet, 500 mg.
5-HTP (Jarrow Formulas) Each bottle, 60 capsules. Each capsule, 100 mg. In the body, tryptophan is converted to 5HTP and then to serotonin. |
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| DISCLAIMER: | These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. | |
