On any given day, your emotions range from joy to sadness, anger to fear. Variations in mood are normal. But prolonged episodes of a depressed mood can interfere with your ability to function at home, work or school. When severe, such mood disorders may require treatment. Many people with mood disorders turn to supplements for relief, but you should check with your doctor to see if a specific supplement is right for you.
Causes and Treatment
The exact causes of mood disorders are unknown. However, successful treatment for these disorders typically includes medications that influence the production or processing of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin or dopamine, within the central nervous system. Thus, it is generally assumed that disturbed neurotransmitter function, otherwise known as "chemical imbalance," plays a major role in mood disorders.
5-HTP and Tryptophan
Several classes of prescription drugs enhance the effects of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin stabilizes mood. People with depression often improve when serotonin levels are boosted. In your brain, the amino acid L-tryptophan is converted to 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, or 5-HTP, and then to serotonin. This biosynthetic pathway is the basis for supplementing with 5-HTP and L-tryptophan to increase serotonin levels. A 2002 review of 108 clinical trials showed that these supplements might be better than placebo for alleviating depression, but insufficient evidence exists to recommend their widespread use.
Phenylalanine and Tyrosine
Dopamine and other catecholamine neurotransmitters play significant roles in mood, as well as exerting effects on attention, sleep cycles, energy, motivation and other functions that secondarily affect mood. The catecholamines are produced when the amino acid L-tyrosine converts to dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine. L-tyrosine itself is synthesized from the essential amino acid L-phenylalanine. Thus, supplementation with L-tyrosine and phenylalanine is purported to help with depression. However, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, studies have shown that tyrosine supplementation has no effect on mood. If you have phenylketonuria, or PKU, you should not take phenylalanine.
Considerations
If you are interested in trying amino acid supplements for a mood disorder, check with your doctor first. Scientific evidence supporting the use of tyrosine, phenylalanine, 5-HTP or tryptophan for mood disturbances is inconclusive. If you are already being treated for mood disorders, or if you are taking prescription medications or other supplements, approach the use of amino acid supplements with caution.
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