One of the most frequent psychological problems encountered in medical practice is depression. A study published in July 1996 in "Postgraduate Medicine" showed that about two-thirds of depressed patients may never receive appropriate intervention. If you are suffering from depression, antidepressant medications can work well for you. But each antidepressant has its own side effects. Taking D-phenylalanine supplements can in many cases be used as an alternative to antidepressant drugs in the treatment of your depression. Consult your doctor before taking a phenylalanine supplement for depression.
About Phenylalanine
Phenylalanine occurs in three chemical forms: L-phenylalanine, D-phenylalanine and Dl-phenylalanine; this last comprises a combination of D and L forms of phenylalanine. D-phenylalanine is a non-nutrient amino acid synthesized in the laboratory. In your body, phenylalanine is converted into another amino acid called tyrosine, which in turn is converted into three brain chemicals called l-dopa, epinephrine and norepinephrine. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, various forms of phenylalanine have been used for the treatment of depression since antidepressants also work by raising the level of epinephrine in the body.
Clinical Evidence
The NYU Langone Medical Center reports the findings of a pair of double-blind comparative studies that found that D-phenylalanine at a daily dosage of 100 mg may be as effective as imipramine, an antidepressant drug. The experiment involved 60 people with mild to moderate depression. According to researchers, people with depression taking D-phenylalanine showed significant improvement in only 15 days as compared to imipramine, which required several weeks to take effect.
Interaction
People with depression taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors, an older class of antidepressants, should avoid supplements containing phenylalanine, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you take phenylalanine in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitors you risk an increase in blood pressure that could lead to heart attack.
Safety Issues
According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, D-phenylalanine supplements must be avoided by people with phenylketonuria, a genetic disorder that is characterized by an inability of the body to properly break down phenylalanine. Work closely with your doctor before taking phenylalanine as a higher than recommended dosage may cause side effects such as nausea, headaches and heartburn.
