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Richard DM, Dawes MA, Mathias CW, et al. L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications. Int J Tryptophan Res. 2009;2:45-60doi: 10.4137/ijtr.s2129.
Richard, D. M., Dawes, M. A., Mathias, C. W., Acheson, A., Hill-Kapturczak, N., & Dougherty, D. M. (2009). L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications. International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR, 245-60. https://doi.org/10.4137/ijtr.s2129
Richard, Dawn M, et al. "L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications." International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR vol. 2 (2009): 45-60. doi: https://doi.org/10.4137/ijtr.s2129
Richard DM, Dawes MA, Mathias CW, Acheson A, Hill-Kapturczak N, Dougherty DM. L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications. Int J Tryptophan Res. 2009 Mar 23;2:45-60. doi: 10.4137/ijtr.s2129. PMID: 20651948; PMCID: PMC2908021.
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Int J Tryptophan Res. 2009 Mar 23;2:45-60. doi: 10.4137/ijtr.s2129.

L-Tryptophan: Basic Metabolic Functions, Behavioral Research and Therapeutic Indications.

International journal of tryptophan research : IJTR

Dawn M Richard, Michael A Dawes, Charles W Mathias, Ashley Acheson, Nathalie Hill-Kapturczak, Donald M Dougherty

Affiliations

  1. Neurobehavioral Research Laboratory and Clinic, Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, U.S.A.

PMID: 20651948 PMCID: PMC2908021 DOI: 10.4137/ijtr.s2129

Abstract

An essential component of the human diet, L-tryptophan is critical in a number of metabolic functions and has been widely used in numerous research and clinical trials. This review provides a brief overview of the role of L-tryptophan in protein synthesis and a number of other metabolic functions. With emphasis on L-tryptophan's role in synthesis of brain serotonin, details are provided on the research uses of L-tryptophan, particularly L-tryptophan depletion, and on clinical trials that have been conducted using L-tryptophan supplementation. The ability to change the rates of serotonin synthesis in the brain by manipulating concentrations of serum tryptophan is the foundation of much research. As the sole precursor of serotonin, experimental research has shown that L-tryptophan's role in brain serotonin synthesis is an important factor involved in mood, behavior, and cognition. Furthermore, clinical trials have provided some initial evidence of L-tryptophan's efficacy for treatment of psychiatric disorders, particularly when used in combination with other therapeutic agents.

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