Tyrosine is one of 20 amino acids used by cells to make protein. It is considered nonessential because it can be made within the body. Its name is derived from Greek and means "cheese" because it was first discovered in casein protein from cheese. Tyrosine is a precursor to some chemicals and hormones in the brain that affect mood and may be related to some forms of migraine headache. One of the breakdown products of tyrosine is tyramine, which is a known trigger for common migraines. Many headache experts do not recommend taking tyrosine supplements for migraines and often advise avoiding tyramine-rich foods.
Tyrosine
Tyrosine is found in many high-protein foods, but it can also be synthesized in the body from phenylalanine, which makes deficiency symptoms very rare in North America. Tyrosine is a precursor to neurotransmitters in the brain, such as dopamine, and some hormones, such as noradrenaline and adrenalin. These compounds, called monoamines, have powerful effects on the entire nervous system, especially in terms of mood and energy levels. According to Dr. Martha Stipanuk's "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition," tyrosine supplementation has been used effectively as a natural antidepressant, memory enhancer and energy booster, but has impacted headaches only secondarily. Specifically, headaches associated with depression seem to be helped by tyrosine because of its positive affect on mood. However, as of 2011 how tyrosine affects actual migraine headaches, as opposed to those associated with depression and fatigue, is not clear.
Tyrosine and Migraines
Anecdotally, there are claims that tyrosine both helps relieve and trigger classic migraine symptoms, such as visual aura, light sensitivity and pounding head pain. The University of Maryland Medical Center cautions that those who have a history of migraine headaches should avoid tyrosine supplements because they believe it triggers migraines and gastrointestinal upset. Tyrosine may trigger migraines because one of its breakdown products is tyramine, which is considered a significant cause of migraine headaches.
Tyramine
According to the "Comprehensive Review of Headache Medicine," tyramine is a known trigger of migraines because it releases noradrenaline from brain tissue, which causes constriction of scalp and brain blood vessels. Constriction of small arteries in the brain initially leads to strange visual phenomena, but then the body overcompensates by dilating the blood vessels, causing a sudden increase in blood volume within the head and pounding head pain that can last for a few hours. Tyramine is a naturally occurring compound in addition to being a trace amine derived from tyrosine, and eating tyramine-rich foods can lead to hypertensive effects on the cardiovascular system, especially in those on monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAO) medication.
Tyramine-Rich Foods
Tyramine-rich foods are responsible for about 15 percent of migraines, according to "The Mechanism and Management of Headache." Tyramine occurs widely in plants and animals and is often produced by the breakdown of tyrosine during fermentation or decay. According to the "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide," foods considered rich in tyramine include all meats that are spoiled, pickled, aged, smoked, fermented, marinated and processed, as well as chocolate, alcohol, most cheeses, sour cream, yogurt, most soy products, sauerkraut, fava beans, avocados, bananas, pineapple, figs, peanuts, Brazil nuts and coconuts.
References
- "Biochemical, Physiological and Molecular Aspects of Human Nutrition"; Martha Stipanuk; 2006
- The University of Maryland Medical: Tyrosine
- "Comprehensive Review of Headache Medicine"; Morris Levin et al.; 2008
- "The Mechanism and Management of Headache"; J.W. Lance M.D. et al.; 2000
- "American Dietetic Association Complete Food and Nutrition Guide"; American Dietetic Association; 2006
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