Essential
Nutrient
Tryptophan
Chemical formula/structure
C11H12N2O2
Natural Sources of Tryptophan in foods
Turkey, chocolate, oats, bananas, dried dates, milk, cottage cheese,
meat, fish, peanuts, sesame seeds, and brown rice.
Reaction in the Body
Tryptophan is carried in your blood stream to your brain, but it
does not always make it. Amino
acids are easily absorbed by body cells and do not make it to the brain. However, if tryptophan does make it as
far as the brain, it has to compete with tyrosine (another amino acid) to make
it through the blood barrier and into the brain. If tryptophan Òwins,Ó there will be a sedated effect. If tyrosine Òwins,Ó there will be an
energetic effect. Tryptophan levels in the body regulate mood and sleep, and
helps produces the Vitamin B, which is a precursor to serotin. Contaminated
tryptophan can cause a rare illness called EMS that can cause drastic
malformation of the arms and legs and early death.
Effects if this Nutrient is not present
It is possible that if your body does not correctly metabolize
tryptophan, it may cause schizophrenia, but may also help aid in treating
schizophrenia. A lack of
tryptophan in mice led to aggressive behavior. Tryptophan helps produce serotin, and serotin helps
regulates memory, blood pressure, appetite, body temperature and learning,
insomnia, depression, increased sensitivity to pain, and obsessive-compulsive
eating disorders may occur.
Information accumulated from:
Elk Grove Main page MedChem Main page