You have several chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters, which send messages to other areas of your body. One type of neurotransmitter is dopamine, which has several roles, such as in your sexual arousal and immune system function. Dopamine also is the neurotransmitter that causes pleasure and provides motivation. To make dopamine, your body needs the amino acid L-tyrosine, which occurs naturally in foods as well as in a dietary supplement.
Mechanism
To get dopamine, your body uses several enzymes to convert L-tyrosine. The enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase converts tyrosine to L-dopa, which is the precursor to dopamine. To turn L-dopa into dopamine, your body uses the enzyme Dopa decarboxylase. Davidson College notes that by using other enzymes, your body can continue to convert L-tyrosine to two more neurotransmitters, norepinephrine and epinephrine.
Nutrition
The formation of dopamine from L-tyrosine relies heavily on nutrition. Several foods contain tyrosine, such as almonds, peanuts, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. Avocados, soy products, lima beans and bananas are other sources. Animal products such as cheese, milk, fish, turkey and chicken also contain tyrosine. When your body converts L-tyrosine into dopamine, it requires several vitamins and minerals. The Franklin Institute lists iron, copper, folic acid and vitamins vitamins B3, B6 and C as nutrients needed for the conversion. Another option for L-tyrosine is the dietary supplement, but you should not take L-tyrosine supplements without consulting your doctor.
Uses
While L-tyrosine has several uses, such as helping with stress, few of its uses relate to L-tyrosine's connection with dopamine. With treatment for stress, L-tyrosine helps by converting to norepinephrine and epinephrine. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that patients with depression have low levels of tyrosine and dopamine plays a role in the mood disorder; however, no effect has been shown with L-tyrosine treatment for depression. Talk to your doctor before taking L-tyrosine supplements.
Dosage
The dosage of L-tyrosine can vary depending on its use. The University of Maryland Medical recommends between 500 and 1,000 mg taken 30 minutes before each meal three times a day.
Considerations
If you take L-tyrosine supplements to increase dopamine levels, talk to your doctor about possible interferences with other medications that affect dopamine. One such medication is monoamine oxidase inhibitors, a type of antidepressant that blocks the removal of dopamine, thus increasing its level. Combining tyrosine, either food or supplement forms, with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor can cause an increase in blood pressure. The University of Maryland Medical Center warns that patients taking L-dopa for Parkinson's disease should not take L-tyrosine, as L-dopa can interfere in tyrosine absorption.
Member Comments