What Are The Benefits Of L Tryptophan?

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and needs to be obtained from the diet. Like all other amino acids, tryptophan is used as a building block in protein synthesis. Additionally, tryptophan has a number of specialized functions, for example it is a precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin and the vitamin niacin. Rich food sources are milk and dairy products, red meat, poultry, eggs, chocolate, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and peanuts. Tryptophan is also available as a food supplement.

Sleep Aid

Tryptophan supplements are frequently taken as a sleep aid. In a 1982-1983 edition of the "Journal of Psychiatric Research," a review of the scientific evidence concluded that L tryptophan in doses of 1 gram or more produce an increase in subjective sleepiness and a decrease in the time to sleep. The researcher noted that the best results were obtained in subjects with mild insomnia or in normal subjects reporting a longer-than-average time to sleep.

Premenstrual Dysphoria

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that can be debilitating due to either physical, mental or emotional symptoms. In a study at St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, researchers gave 6 grams of L-tryptophan to premenstrual dysphoric disorder patients. After 17 days of treatment, starting at ovulation till the third day of menstruation, it was found that L-tryptophan significantly improved mood symptoms.

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Seasonal affective disorder, SAD, is a mood disorder in which people of otherwise normal mental health experience depressive symptoms in the winter, repeatedly year after year. Researchers at the University of British Columbia treated SAD patients with 3 grams of L-tryptophan daily for two weeks. The study found the L-tryptophan administration resulted in significantly reduced mean depression scores.

Antidepressant

Tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, a hormone contributing to the feelings of well-being, and people with low levels of serotonin are prone to depression. A study reported in the November 1982, "Psychological Medicine," investigated whether tryptophan could act as an antidepressant. The study involved 150 patients and lasted 12 weeks. It was found that tryptophan significantly improved depression and was not associated with side effects.

Antidepressant-drug Enhancer

Not only is L-tryptophan effective as a standalone antidepressant, it also enhances the effect of other antidepressive drugs. A study reported in the September 2000 "Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience" documents that when 2 to 5 grams of tryptophan daily were given with fluoxentine to patients with major depressive disorders, after the first week there was more improvement in patients taking the two than in those taking fluoxentine only.