Amino acids are necessary for health and proper bodily function. Your body uses 22 amino acids to carry out various functions in your body. Your body manufactures more than half of these amino acids on its own, while you must get the remainder through your diet. Tyrosine is an amino acid your body manufactures from another amino acid called phenylalanine, an essential amino acid that you must get from your diet. 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP is also manufactured from an amino acid, tryptophan.
Function
Your body manufactures important brain chemicals called neurotransmitters with the help of vitamins, other nutrients and amino acids. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that transmit signals to and from neurons. Tyrosine and 5-HTP are two nutrients that play key roles in manufacturing neurotransmitters. Your body uses tyrosine to produce several neurotransmitters, including epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. Once your body converts tyrptophan to 5-HTP, it is used to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin, a chemical involved in mood regulation.
Importance of Neurotransmitters
Neurotransmitters help promote well-being by regulating mood, energy, libido, sleep-wake cycles and the pleasure and reward response. Epinephrine and norepinephrine act as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone and are similar to adrenaline, providing a sense of "get up and go." Think of norepinephrine as the gas and your body as the engine. They are intimately involved in the "fight or flight" response along with adrenaline. Dopamine is involved in emotional response and helps promote mental health, along with serotonin.
5-HTP and Depression
Clinical depression is a long-term sense of sadness, not necessarily due to external circumstances, that lasts more than six weeks. Because several neurotransmitters are involved in promoting emotional well-being, researchers have shown an interest in the clinical applications of 5-HTP. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, small studies have indicated that 5-HTP may be as effective as certain antidepressants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate depression, particularly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a class of antidepressants that work by blocking the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain.
Tyrosine and Stress
There is no escape from stress; it's a natural part of our daily lives, but your ability to cope with stress is linked to your tyrosine levels. Epinephrine and norephinephrine produced by tyrosine are stress hormones that play an important role in buffering the stress you encounter daily. During times of prolonged stress, your body may not be able to produce enough stress hormones to meet your needs. According to UMMC, some animal studies indicate that tyrosine supplements may improve memory and performance during times of psychological stress, but more research is needed.
Sources and Safety
Tyrosine is found in foods such as meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. 5-HTP is not found in your diet, however. High dietary sources of 5-HTP's precursor, tryptophan, include chicken breast, turkey, tuna, soybeans, lamb, halibut, salmon and shrimp. Because tyrosine can interact with certain medications, consult your doctor before increasing your dietary tyrosine intake. Both tyrosine and 5-HTP are available as dietary supplements. Because all supplements can cause potential side effects, consult your doctor prior to taking either of these amino acids.
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