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What is L-Tryptophan?

Tryptophan (L- Tryptophan) is an essential amino acid made from proteins during digestion by the action of proteolytic enzymes. Being an essential amino acid, Tryptophan can only be obtained through food and cannot be produced within the body. Essential amino acids must be derived preformed from food or supplements; non-essential aminos on the other hand can be made from the essential amino acids, or other non-essential amino acids. Many naturally occurring physiological substances are derived from L-Tryptophan such as serotonin (after being converted into 5-HTP), which is involved in vasopressure regulation, and indolacetic acid, which is a plant hormone and also involved in elevated blood pressure, ergotamine, strychnine and other indole alkaloids. Serotonin is also involved in mood, appetite, sleep, and impulse control, owing to the fact that it is a potent neurotransmitter in the brain.

This makes Tryptophan a precursor and a vital element for neurotransmitters serotonin (a neurotransmitter) and melatonin (a neurohormone). These chemical messengers transport nerve impulses from one cell to another. Put in simpler terms, our brain can not function properly without sufficient amounts of these neurotransmitters. When carbohydrates are consumed, an increase in insulin in the body increases, which in turn removes other amino acids that compete with tryptophan. This makes it easier for tryptophan to enter the brain to manufacture serotonin, which affects the brain function in regulating food intake and sleep patterns. Studies have shown that a deficiency in serotonin levels can lead to depression and insomnia and both these conditions are aggravated as serotonin levels decrease.

Our body also utilizes the amino acid tryptophan to synthesize vitamin B3, known as niacin. Many nutritionists believe that as long as you supply your body with enough tryptophan rich foods you will be able to produce adequate amounts of niacin, which reduces cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood. Niacin also helps treat depression. For tryptophan to be able to carry out its bodily functions effectively, vitamin B6 is needed. Other nutrients that are also required are vitamin C, folate (vitamin B9) and the mineral magnesium. Studies have shown that tryptophan and serotonin is useful and effective for more than just depression. Various types of defective impulse control and obsessive compulsive disorders are also strongly affected by serotonin nerve activity. Suicidal tendencies, compulsive gambling, unreasonably dangerous thrill seeking behavior and compulsive fire starting (pyromania), have been shown to be in direct correlation with low serotonin neural activity, combined with excessive dopaminergic/ noradrenergic activity.

In summary, Tryptophan is an essential amino acid formed from proteins during digestion by the action of proteolytic enzymes. Its health benefits include enhanced relaxation and sleep, relief from minor premenstrual symptoms, soothed nerves and anxiety, and reduced cravings for carbohydrates. Rich sources of Tryptophan are chocolate, oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, cottage cheese, meat, fish, turkey, and peanuts. Deficiency of tryptophan may lead to depression, insomnia, schizophrenia, suicidal tendencies, and carbohydrate craving.

What is L-Tryptophan used for and who uses it?

Tryptophan may enhance relaxation and sleep, relieve minor premenstrual symptoms, soothe nerves and anxiety, and reduce carbohydrate cravings. Tryptophan is crucial to produce serotonin. Serotonin is one of the key brain chemicals involved in regulating mood. During depression, there is a decreased amount of serotonin released from nerve cells in the brain. By increasing the amount of serotonin in the blood, tryptophan may increase serotonin’s antidepressant effects. Tryptophan is only used during therapy in conjunction with other antidepressants.

Tryptophan is required to synthesize niacin (B3) and needs B6, biotin, vitamin C and zinc to manufacture the enzyme for conversion. Tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptamine (or 5-HTP, the middle step in the conversion of tryptophan to serotonin) supplementation may help increase serotonin levels and help relieve fibromyalgia symptoms. Tryptophan is beneficial in treating menopausal depressive conditions and alleviating the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Tryptophan is also helpful in managing hyperactivity in children, relieving stress, and enhancing the release of growth hormones necessary for the production of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine).

Serotonin plays an important role in controlling appetite and managing weight loss. In response to high carbohydrate meals, more serotonin is released, which is thought to decrease appetite and improve mood. Tryptophan is also involved in the body’s regulation of sleep. Increasing tryptophan can also assist in normalizing sleep patterns. Studies have also found that people who suffer from migraine headaches have abnormal levels of tryptophan, and in this supplementation may be helpful.

If you have insomnia, tryptophan may be beneficial as well. Several research studies have demonstrated L-tryptophan to be helpful in the treatment of chronic insomnia at doses of between one to four grams before bedtime. Additionally, L-tryptophan is not associated with side effects that are common with prescription drugs, nor does it cause drowsiness or difficulty in getting up the next day. This makes L-tryptophan a viable and attractive option to conventional drug therapies for the treatment of chronic insomnia.

How pure is your L-Tryptophan?

This L-Tryptophan amino acid pure bulk powder is assayed by the manufacturer to be 99.3% product. You will receive a sealed and labeled heavy duty 4 mil polyethylene bag containing this pure white crystalline powder. Taking tryptophan as a supplement is the most natural way to defeat the brain's serotonin production problems. Unlike ingesting a high protein diet, isolated supplemental tryptophan intake will not increase blood levels of its five amino competitors (tyrosine, phenylalanine, valine, leucine and isoleucine). Since the normal dietary intake is only 1 to 1.5 grams per day, even a modest amount of tryptophan supplementation (500mg to 3000mg) will have a significant benefit in increasing blood and brain tryptophan levels. Due to the fact that our product is pharmaceutical grade, these are best utilized by the body, since they do not require digestion and are easily absorbed. Our product does not contain any fillers, additives or anti-caking agents. If all you want are the health benefits made possible with L-Tryptophan, buying this product in bulk is the best way to get there. Buying in bulk is also your best bet for saving money because for sure you’ll pay more at a local nutrition store. Bulk costs are cheaper in the long run and you will receive a great deal at or below wholesale prices for a high purity bulk quantity of this product.

What are some of the common effects of L-Tryptophan?

The essential amino acid L-tryptophan helps promote relaxation, restful sleep, and feeling better. It plays an important part in the production of both melatonin and serotonin, hormones responsible and involved with mood and stress response. L-Tryptophan also strengthens immune functions because it is the body's precursor to the kynurenines that support immunity. If needed, L-tryptophan changes to niacin in the body, which supports circulation, a healthy nervous system, the metabolism of food, and the production of hydrochloric acid for healthy digestion.

Effects of tryptophan on depression: Studies indicate that people who experience depression have low levels of tryptophan. Physicians who use nutrition in their therapies have been utilizing tryptophan to help treat depression and insomnia as they believe that by increasing the serotonin and melatonin levels in the brain, the symptoms of depression and insomnia are greatly reduced. It is wise to note that although many people believe that antidepressants such as Prozac and Zoloft increase serotonin levels they actually do not. What these antidepressants actually do is preserve and maintains the limited amount of serotonin available in the brain.

Effects of tryptophan on sleep: Studies suggest that low serotonin levels can cause sleep problems. If you suffer from insomnia, L tryptophan is an excellent option over prescription drugs and there are no side effects. In recent years, melatonin has gained recognition as the natural answer to insomnia. However the fact that melatonin is produced in the pineal gland from serotonin is often overlooked. Thus supplemental tryptophan may stimulate one's pineal gland to naturally increase its melatonin production. Also, important sleep regulating nerve circuits in the brainstem (the raphe nuclei) utilize serotonin as their neurotransmitter, which means melatonin alone cannot provide effective insomnia relief. Low dose melatonin (0.5mg to 1mg) plus tryptophan (500mg to 1500mg) may prove more effective for many people with serious insomnia.

Effects of tryptophan on dementia: Tryptophan's role in dementia has been established by recent research, which has shown that the depression that frequently accompanies and even predates the movement disorders of Parkinson's disease is primarily due to the hypofunction of serotonin nerves. Because of this, tryptophan may be a useful in combination with L-Dopa/ deprenyl treatment of Parkinson's. In the latter stages of Alzheimer's disease, heightened irritability and unprovoked aggression frequently accompany the mental decline, and recent research has shown partial destruction of key serotonergic neural circuits to be involved. Supplemental tryptophan may optimize the activity of remaining serotonergic neurons, reducing unprovoked anger and aggression.

What is the daily suggested dose of L-Tryptophan?

Recommended doses for L-Tryptophan vary considerably from the published scientific literature and from various manufacturers, sometimes ranging between as little as 50mg to as much as 500mg per day, depending upon individual needs. However, as little as 200mg to 300mg per day has been shown clinically effective in increasing brain serotonin levels. If you suffer from severe depression or anxiety talk to your physician before taking L-Tryptophan as a nutritional or dietary supplement. A commonly recommended dose for L-Tryptophan is 500mg per day and it is important that you not exceed this amount without the consent and supervision of your prescribing physician. One half level tablespoon will supply approximately 2159 milligrams, or just about 2 grams for the bulk density of this L-Tryptophan powder. You can see the full bulk density/volumetric conversion chart for L-Tryptophan here. For accurate dosing of this product use an accurate sub-gram (or milligram) weight scale, or consult the Bulk Density volumetric table only if you have calibrated (verified accurate by volume) measuring spoons.

A review article published in Psychopharmacology found that L-tryptophan is effective for the treatment of insomnia in doses ranging from 1 to 15 grams. Repeated administration of low doses of L-tryptophan may be required for therapeutic improvement in more chronic, well-established sleep-onset insomnia or in more severe insomnias characterized by both sleep onset and sleep maintenance problems. An important factor in the decision to give a trial of L-tryptophan is the absence of side effects and lack of development of tolerance in long-term use. Further, L-tryptophan does not cause difficulties when trying to wake up the next morning. For those with insomnia wishing to try L-tryptophan, a strong initial dose (one to four grams) is recommended for the first week, followed by a lower maintenance dose (500 mg to 1 gram). Those not responding to this therapy should seek the advice of a well-trained naturopathic doctor or holistic physician to determine if an underlying disease state exists.

One point to keep in mind is that the body needs a supply of all the amino acids in order to effectively create and utilize proteins so if you intend to supplement any of the amino acids it is of paramount importance that you have a balanced intake of all the other amino acids. Being deficient in even one amino acid will lower the efficiency of all the other amino acids in your body.

Potential side effects of L-Tryptophan

WORD OF CAUTION: DO NOT TAKE L-Tryptophan SUPPLEMENTS if you are currently taking, or within the last 90 days have taken, any anti-stress, anti-anxiety, or anti-depression medications without first talking to your prescribing physician. Overdose symptoms include agitation, confusion, diarrhea, fever, overactive reflexes, nausea, hypomania (a mild form of mania, characterized by hyperactivity and feelings of well-being), poor coordination, restlessness, sweating, and vomiting. Avoid combining l-tryptophan with other serotonin increasing agents such as 5-HTP or SSRI drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, etc.

People with liver or kidney disease should not take this or any other amino acid supplement without first consulting their physician. Getting too much of any one amino acid can throw the citric acid cycle out of balance, which makes the liver and kidneys work harder to eliminate toxins.

L-Tryptophan is used in the following Proprietary Formulas

Xtend-Life Neuro-Natural Serenity, Prozac, Paxil, Source Naturals L-Tryptophan, Bluebonnet L-Tryptophan, Zoloft

References & Further Research

In search of the action of anti-depressants, 5HTP, tyrosine mixtures in depression
For a long time antidepressants have been considered to act via enhancement of central monoaminergic activity (due to reuptake or MAO inhibition). An alternative hypothesis holds that their action is based on down-regulation of monoaminergic activity (due to decrease in density or sensitivity of certain receptor populations). In this paper the likelihood of both hypotheses is discussed and the conclusion reached that the first one is the most plausible. The following arguments are discussed: (1) the 5-HT precursor 5-HTP, which is transformed to 5-HT in the brain, has antidepressant properties; (2) there are indications that the same holds true for tyrosine, a catecholamine precursor transformed in the brain to DA and NA; and (3) evidence was found that the effects of 5-HTP in depression are potentiated by tyrosine. Since activation rather than suppression of monoaminergic activity seems to be linked to antidepressant activity, it seems likely that the signs of decreased monoamine metabolism that have been demonstrated in certain types of depression are the expression of a primary metabolic deficit rather than a phenomenon secondary to receptor hypersensitivity. Further clinical studies of 5-HT/CA precursor combinations in depression are justified.

L-Tryptophan in neuro psychiatric disorders, a review
Animal data indicate that serotonin (5-HT) is a major neurotransmitter involved in the control of numerous central nervous system functions including mood, aggression, pain, anxiety, sleep, memory, eating behavior, addictive behavior, temperature control, endocrine regulation, and motor behavior. Tryptophan, the natural amino acid precursor in 5-HT biosynthesis, increases 5-HT synthesis in the brain and, therefore, may stimulate 5-HT release and function. Since it is a natural constituent of the diet, tryptophan should have low toxicity and produce few side effects. Based on these advantages, dietary tryptophan supplementation has been used in the management of neuropsychiatric disorders with variable success. This review summarizes current clinical use of tryptophan supplementation in neuropsychiatric disorders.

L-Tryptophan for International Customers

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