Tryptophan supplement benefit for depression, sleep, side effects, dosage 500 mg, review of safety, danger
<p align="left"><strong>Tryptophan </strong><b>supplement for sleep, mood, and stress - A review of benefits and side effects, safety, risks by <a href="http://www.raysahelian.com">Ray Sahelian, M.D. </a></b></p>
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L Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in foods that contain protein such as turkey. </p>
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It is able to convert into 5-HTP (5-hydroxy-tryptophan), and then to serotonin. Serotonin is involved in mood, appetite, sleep and impulse control.</p>
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Serotonin taken orally as a pill is not able to easily cross the blood brain barrier, hence either tryptophan or 5-hydroxy-trytophan are good natural options since they convert into serotonin after going into the brain. <b>
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Metabolism
</b>The figure below shows l-tryptophan converting into 5-HTP, which then readily converts into serotonin. Once serotonin is made, the pineal gland is able to convert it at night into melatonin, the sleep-inducing hormone.</p>
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L-Tryptophan --> 5-Hydroxytryptophan <a href="http://www.raysahelian.com/5-htp.html">5-HTP</a> --> <a href="http://www.raysahelian.com/serotonin.html">Serotonin</a> --> N-Acetyl-serotonin --> Melatonin</p>
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Vitamin B6 is involved in the metabolism of tryptophan to serotonin. </p>
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Note: L-Tryptophan is also metabolized to a different pathway, not all of it is converted into 5-HTP.
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