Tryptophan, also known as L-tryptophan, is an essential amino acid; the body cannot produce tryptophan, so it must be consumed through food or supplements. Tryptophan is a possible depression treatment because tryptophan affects serotonin production.
In the United States, about 14.8 million adults have major depressive disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. People with depression have a consistently low mood and might have problems with concentration, activity level,...
One way to cope with anxiety or depression is to eat foods that contain tryptophan, according to MayoClinic.com, because tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin, which helps you relax and can improve your mood. Tryptophan must be obtained through...
Studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Mental Health, or NIMH, estimate that 19 million Americans suffer from depression every year. Scientists continue to debate the exact cause of depression, but one theory is that the brain doesn't...
Antidepressants remain the mainstay of therapy for patients with depression. There is an increasing trend towards the use of 5-HTP and tryptophan as an alternative to traditional antidepressants. 5-HTP is synthesized from the essential amino acid...
A September 2002 review published in "American Family Physician" reported that depression is the second most common chronic disorder seen by primary care physicians, and at least 10 percent of depressed individuals suffer from major depression....
Depression is the leading cause of mental health disability in the world, according to the World Health Organization. At least 1-in-5 Americans are affected by depression at some point in their lives, and medications for depression are effective...
Depression is a crippling disease, which affects 3.3 million adults and is the leading cause of disability in Americans between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the National Institute of Mental health. Depression can include prolonged feelings...
Serotonin is a chemical neurotransmitter in the brain associated with feelings of well-being. The lack of serotonin may be responsible for some forms of depression and other mental health issues. Your brain produces serotonin from an essential...
The amino acids 5-HTP and L-tryptophan are essential to healthy brain activity. Since tryptophan was pulled off of shelves in the United States for safety concerns, its close relative, 5-HTP has taken up the mantle as a reputed natural sleep aid...
Serotonin is one of the most important of the neurotransmitters, regulating processes in the body as diverse as digestion and temperature control. It is best known, however, for its role in regulating mood. It also is the direct precursor to...
The body requires 22 essential amino acids to build the proteins that fight infection, regulate growth and influence mental state. While most of these amino acids are synthesized by the body, there are several that must come from the food we eat...
Tryptophan supplementation is a controversial issue. In 1989 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limited the availability of tryptophan within the United States. However, tryptophan is available with a prescription from a medical doctor....
Your mood can affect your outlook in life, which is why it is beneficial to understand how amino acids can lift your spirit the next time you are feeling blue. Mood disorders are types of mental health disorders that affect your emotional state...
Over half of all American adults took some type of dietary supplement between 2003 and 2006, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While about 40 percent take multivitamins, many also take supplements purported to help a...
Amino acids are the nitrogen and carbon based structures that link together to form proteins. There are 22 different amino acids. Thirteen of the amino acids can be synthesized within your body, either from other amino acids or from various...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a naturally occurring chemical that can influence mood and appetite. B complex vitamins, such as thiamine and folic acid, also affect serotonin. Doctors prescribe antidepressants to help raise the brain's serotonin...
5-Hydroxytryptophan is a food supplement sold over-the-counter in the United States. It is marketed as an antidepressant and said to regulate moods, aid sleep and help in weight loss. In "5-HTP: The Natural Way to Overcome Depression, Obesity, and...
L-tryptophan and 5-HTP are widely used, “natural” alternatives to prescription antidepressant medications. In 1989, L-tryptophan was linked to an epidemic of eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. EMS is a sometimes fatal condition...
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which can only be obtained through food. In the body, L-tryptophan is converted to serotonin, an important neurotransmitter involved in mood, sleep and impulse control. According to Nutritional Supplements...
Mood disorders affect a large portion of the U.S. population. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, nearly 10 percent of the U.S. adult population had a mood disorder over a 12-month period in 2005, with 45 percent of those...
Tryptophan, an amino acid, is commonly regarded as an alternative treatment for depression. Being natural does not necessarily mean a supplement is safe, though. You should not use supplements to replace traditional medical care. If you choose to...
Depression is a sullen mood accompanied by one or more symptoms such as fatigue, physical pain, sleep disorder, anxiety or suicidal thought. It is caused by a low level of the hormone serotonin and can last for months or even years. According to...
Until 1980, the medical establishment believed depression did not exist in children. Some practitioners are still not trained to recognize it. Parents are often the first to realize something's wrong when their children withdraw into themselves...
A mood disorder characterized by sadness, depression affects a patient's emotional state and behavior. Depression can cause poor concentration, which can affect memory and thinking. There are a variety of treatment options available for...
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is necessary for your brain cells to communicate with one another. Serotonin is especially important because it plays a role in depression and mood balance. As serotonin is made from the amino acid tryptophan,...
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid and needs to be obtained from the diet. Like all other amino acids, tryptophan is used as a building block in protein synthesis. Additionally, tryptophan has a number of specialized functions, for example it...
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The tissues in your body are made of protein, which is constructed of amino acids. Your body can produce some amino acids on its own, but there are ten amino acids that must come from your diet: arginine,...
A popular belief--caused, according to the University of Hawaii’s NutritionATC, by a viral email forward--claims that bananas can alleviate depression. This legend exaggerates the banana’s power, NutritionATC explains; the fruit cannot...