Taking multivitamin supplements with tyrosine supplements may be beneficial for a number of health concerns. Tyrosine is an amino acid your body produces from phenylalanine, a different amino acid. Foods like soy products, dairy products, meats and some fruits and legumes are natural sources of dietary tyrosine. Supplements give you additional tyrosine; multivitamins contain a mixture of nutrients like vitamin C, vitamin E and the B vitamins that can be beneficial while taking tyrosine.
Tyrosine
Your body uses tyrosine to make neurotransmitters like dopamine and epinephrine. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers in the brain. Tyrosine is in most proteins in your body and is necessary for your organs to function correctly. You also need tyrosine to make melanin, which is the colored pigment in your skin and hair. Supplements can make up a deficiency of tyrosine. Manufacturers make tyrosine supplements in tablet or capsule form. To increase absorption of the tyrosine supplements, take them along with vitamins B-6, B-9 and copper, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. Most multivitamins contain these three nutrients.
Hypothyroidism
Tyrosine may be beneficial for treating hypothyroidism, a condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland that makes too few hormones. The thyroid gland is in the front of the neck. Tyrosine helps the thyroid function. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking 500 milligrams of tyrosine two to three times a day. The center also recommends iodine supplements when hypothyroidism is due to an iodine deficiency. A multivitamin may be beneficial if it contains iodine or to help you absorb tyrosine. Iron supplements can interfere with absorption, though. Ask your doctor about taking a multivitamin with iron.
Meth Treatment
Tyrosine and a multivitamin together may be beneficial for recovering from a meth addiction, according to the Alliance for Addiction Solutions of California. The alliance was established by doctors and nutritionists in September 2007. The alliance states that taking tyrosine capsules along with multivitamin and mineral capsules, plus eating protein at each meal, is part of an effective nutritional intervention program for treating meth addiction. The supplements address nutritional deficiencies in addicts that affect the nervous system.
Catatonia
Tyrosine supplements combined with vitamin C and vitamin E may help improve perphenazine-induced catatonia caused by a lack of the hormone dopamine. Catatonia is a sign of Parkinson's disease. A study published in the "Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products" in 2007 found that rats given tyrosine, vitamin C and vitamin E showed less muscular rigidity than rats taking tyrosine alone. The researchers also found that the effects of vitamin C alone are significantly less than when taken with vitamin E. More research is necessary to determine whether these supplements taken together in a multivitamin or in humans helps catatonia.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Tyrosine
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Hypothyroidism
- Alliance for Addiction Solutions: Meth Easy To Treat
- Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products; The Effect of L-Tyrosine, Vitamins E and C on Perphenaine-Induced Catatonia in Rat; Arzi A, et al.; 2007 (doc)
- Healthwise: Choosing a Vitamin and Mineral Supplement
