The body needs amino acids to survive. You can get them from nutritional supplements and you can get them from foods. However, there are 20 amino acids that are an absolute must for the human body and L-Tryptophan is one of them.
L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The only way the body can get this necessary amino acid is through food or supplements. The body cannot produce it on its own, but it needs it to survive.
Without L-Tryptophan, the body cannot produce serotonin, melatonin, niacin, auxin or 5HTP. L-Tryptophan is responsible for the healthy development of the organs as well as regulation of mood by transmitting information among nerve cells in the brain.
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L-Tryptophan and Nutritional Supplements L-Tryptophan is found in a variety of nutritional supplements. It is most often sold as a mood enhancer, although there are other uses as well. In addition, L-Tryptophan is sold as a sleep aid. L-Tryptophan is also sold as a simple supplement to... more
L-Tryptophan is found in a variety of nutritional supplements. It is most often sold as a mood enhancer, although there are other uses as well. In addition, L-Tryptophan is sold as a sleep aid.
L-Tryptophan is also sold as a simple supplement to increase the L-Tryptophan levels. The manufactures who sell this product as such simply state the fact that the body needs L-Tryptophan and that it can’t manufacture its own, requiring you to get it from other sources.
There are quite a few food sources that contain L-Tryptophan. Because of this, an actual deficiency of L-Tryptophan is rare.
In most cases when someone isn’t producing enough serotonin, it isn’t because they don’t have enough L-Tryptophan. Rather it is because their body isn’t processing it correctly.
You can find L-Tryptophan in foods like:
There are dozens of other food sources that contain L-Tryptophan as well.
There information about the safety of taking L-Tryptophan as a supplement. There were about 32 deaths related to the taking of L-Tryptophan via supplements and over 1500 cases of EMS, which is a neurological condition that presents like the flu.
The FDA eventually pulled L-Tryptophan off the shelves in 1990 and the cases of EMS all but stopped. However, in clinical studies, there were no conclusive connections made between L-Tryptophan and EMS, so the FDA allowed it to be placed back on the market.
There have been more cases of EMS associated with the use of L-Tryptophan since its return on the market, but not on the scale that it occurred in 1989. Part of the reason for this is believed to be contamination of the L-Tryptophan that was being sold.
The other reason, it is believed, is due to the fact the L-Tryptophan prevents histamine from properly breaking down in the body. What does this mean for you? The answer really isn’t clear.
Thousands, perhaps millions of people use L-Tryptophan everyday without developing EMS. There are safety concerns associated with supplements that you should take seriously.
One way to ensure that you reduce your risk of severe health repercussions is to only buy L-Tryptophan from U.S. sources. In addition, you should only buy the purest products, even though they are a bit more expensive, because this reduces the risk of contamination.
There are some side effects that have been associated with L-Tryptophan. The most common side effects are:
None of these side effects are permanent or serious. The recommendation for those of you who experience any of these side effects is to reduce your intake by half and see if the effects subside.
Allow your body to grow accustomed to the L-Tryptophan and slowly increase your dose until you are taking the recommended amount. It can take several weeks to allow your body to respond positively to the L-Tryptophan and for some people, the side effects will persist.
L-Tryptophan and Pregnancy
L-Tryptophan has been deemed unsafe to take during pregnancy. In addition, the FDA recommends that if you are breastfeeding you should not take L-Tryptophan because there are no data to determine if it will adversely affect your baby.
L-Tryptophan and Medications
If you are on any medications, you should not take L-Tryptophan until you speak to your doctor and get approval. In addition, because L-Tryptophan increases serotonin levels, you should not take it if you are on MAOIs, anti-depressants or any other behavioral health medication!
L-Tryptophan Conclusions
There are a lot of people taking L-Tryptophan with no problem. However, with past safety concerns, you should be aware of any negative changes in your body and report them to your doctor if they coincide with starting L-Tryptophan.
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| Diarrhea |
| Drowsiness |
| Erectile Dysfunction |
| Gas |
| Headaches |
| Heartburn |
| Loss Of Appetite |
| Muscle Weakness |
| Stomach Aches |
| Vomiting |
| L-Triptofano, L-Trypt, L-2-amino-3-(indole-3-yl) propionic acid, L-Tryptophane, Tryptophan |
| Mood Enhancer |
| Sleep Aid |