Monday, January 28, 2008

Tryptophan: Does more than give a post-Thanksgiving nap

Many think the only thing tryptophan does is make people sleepy after they eat turkey. However, Tryptophan has many more uses. For example, Tryptophan can help people suffering from endogenous (unipolar) depression. Studies have also shown that tryptophan can help cure insomnia. Tryptophan affects this diseases because it has a direct affect on the central nervous system. Tryptophan is a predecessor to serotonin, which regulates sleep and mood. This aspect allows the tryptophan to help those suffering from insomnia and depression. However, some people need more than just the daily dose of tryptophan received from food, a tryptophan supplement is necessary .  It is important to note though, that tryptophan can be toxic in high doses. Tryptophan can also help alleviate migraine headaches, control weight by reducing appetite and enhancing the distribution of growth hormones. Tryptophan can do it all! Who knew...
Tryptophan is known as an "essential" amino acid. This means people must receive a sufficient amount of tryptophan to satisfy the body's needs. It is best to take tryptophan along with a carbohydrate such as fruit juice. The insulin in the fruit juice helps the absorption of tryptophan into the nervous system. However, other amino acids can disrupt the absorption of tryptophan into the nervous system. For this reason, tryptophan should be taken on an empty stomach with a carbohydrate for optimal therapeutic results. 
As I said earlier, tryptophan is commonly known for just making people sleep after eating turkey. However, using chemistry we've learned that tryptophan has many other uses. Chemist have been able to recognize the various uses of tryptophan by identifying the its chemical make-up. For instance, the fact that tryptophan is a predecessor to serotonin enables chemist to understand the primary affect of this amino acid. Also, the chemistry allows us to know when to take tryptophan and how to optimize its abilities. Chemistry is essential in identifying the uses of various amino acids by observing their chemical structure and analyzing how this structure affects different areas of nervous system. Tryptophan + Chemistry= Possibilities 

3 comments:

McLovin said...

I think your study of tryptophan is very interesting. The fact that it is a cure for insomnia seems a bit obvious since we all know how tired it makes you after eating turkey. However, the analysis on its affect on depression could be really interesting. Keep up the good work and try to narrow down your topic to make it more specific.

u+me=covalent bond said...

This was a very informative study. i was unaware of all of the uses of tryptophan. Teh only thing was that you suggested how to take tryptophan but what are you trying to achieve. keep on gathering

Sarah said...

i really like this study...it's so interesting! like mclovin...i think its cool that it is a cure for insomnia. however, i did hear that the turkey thing was a myth. i agree to make it more specific because it may be hard to find so much info on a lot of topics at once.