Tryptophan for Depression Treatment and Improving Mood

The biochemical balance in the brain is a leading factor in a healthy emotional life. Taking Tryptophan for depression has shown some initial success in clinical studies, but it is typically recommended as an adjunct therapy.

By learning how to augment and replenish supplies of important mood related neurochemicals like Serotonin, it may be possible to improve the serious symptoms of clinical depression. Tryptophan, a naturally occurring amino acid found in countless staple foods, may help increase Serotonin levels without any major side effects.

This article will give a brief summary of what is known about the positive benefits of taking Tryptophan for depression. If you suffer from mild to severe depression, speak to your doctor to find out if adding this organic compound into a daily health routine may provide lasting and safe relief.

L-Tryptophan

Amino Acid

Mood

Stress

Sleep

How It Works:

• Precursor for serotonin synthesis
• Supports a calm, relaxed mood
• Promotes restful sleep patterns

Dosage:

Between 6 - 12 g per day

Safety:

Generally Well Tolerated

Top L-Tryptophan Products* ❯

View User Ratings* ❯

How the Body Uses Tryptophan to Regulate Mood

The neurotransmitter Serotonin has a major influence over feelings of emotional well-being. This chemical can impart feelings of happiness, relaxation, and contentedness with life.

The number one natural source of Serotonin in the brain comes from the diet, in the form of Tryptophan. By boosting the intake of foods which include this compound, we may increase Serotonin levels.

Here are just a few of the foods which supply Tryptophan for depression and raising Serotonin levels in the body: Salmon, Turkey, Chicken, Buffalo, Eggs, Cottage Cheese, Pumpkin Seeds, Sesame Seeds, Mustard Greens, Tuna, Avocado, and Spinach.

Once foods that are high in Tryptophan are consumed, the body processes this amino acid and uses it for different purposes. Tryptophan is a building block for many different proteins in the body.

Some Tryptophan is broken down in the liver into 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan), a bioavailable intermediary which can cross the blood brain barrier. Once in the brain, 5 HTP is converted into Serotonin.

This Serotonin can be used to improve communication across nerve cells, regulate blood pressure, and most importantly, generate good emotions and a pleasant mood. It even works to reduce the appetite and promote weight loss.

Serotonin helps the brain deal with stressful, hyperactive thoughts. Meditative states may be easier to achieve, and joyful feelings are more accessible.

Serotonin’s role in emotional health is so vital that a deficiency of it may lead to very serious depression symptoms. While many may assume that depression is solely caused by psychological or environmental factors, a chemical Serotonin imbalance may be an integral part of the disease’s development in some people.

For this reason, taking Tryptophan for depression may have profound positive benefits through the increase of Serotonin in the brain.

Tryptophan Benefits for Mood and Health

People who take Tryptophan supplements for depression may feel an overall lift to mood soon after beginning use. As with all natural remedies for mood disorders like depression, effects may take several weeks of regular use to fully kick in.

However, even a single dosage of Tryptophan, from food or from a Tryptophan supplement, may provide noticeable mood lift. Some users have reported that the hallmark symptoms of depression – listlessness, a hopeless attitude, decreased appetite, and trouble sleeping – have improved with Tryptophan.

Supplementing with Tryptophan is not always effective on its own for depression, or the results are too mild. Research has been done looking at adding Tryptophan to some existing antidepressant treatment plans.

A research study compared a group of patients receiving chlorimipramine plus Tryptophan, to a group receiving chlorimipramine plus a placebo. It was found that symptoms of depression showed a more rapid rate of improvement in the Tryptophan group, and the difference between the groups was already significant after 12 days of study.

In addition to boosting Serotonin, another key Tryptophan benefit is an increase in the hormone Melatonin. A portion of the Serotonin in the body naturally gets converted into Melatonin. This compound is required for the maintenance of healthy, nourishing rest and sleep.

Many depression sufferers report that more than any other symptom, insomnia gets in the way of recovery and progress. A daily Tryptophan supplement may restore regular sleep patterns, allowing the brain to substantially rest and refresh.

Serotonin has also been noted to regulate appetite and increase metabolism. Body image can sometimes play into the symptoms of depression. Additionally, low fitness levels may worsen the lethargy and fatigue associated with this condition. By improving energy metabolism while controlling food cravings, it is possible to address this common underlying factor related to the mood disorder.

While Tryptophan is used as a prescription drug to treat mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and depression in some countries, including Canada, in the USA, the FDA has not approved Tryptophan as a drug to prevent or treat any conditions.

Tryptophan Safety and Side Effects

As a natural amino acid derived from food, Tryptophan capsules may present fewer side effects and risks than many pharmaceutical drugs used as antidepressants.

Drugs which are frequently prescribed to treat depression like MAOIs, SSRIs, and amphetamines, can cause unhealthy spikes and crashes in levels of neurochemicals like Serotonin, Dopamine, Epinephrine, and Norepinephrine. These spikes may lead to unnatural highs and lows of neurotransmitters and hormones.

The risk for addiction and withdrawal symptoms with prescription anti-depressants can be high. For most users, Tryptophan and 5-HTP supplements are often milder and present fewer serious health risks when used appropriately by healthy individuals.

Appropriate dosage of Tryptophan depends on many factors including age, weight, physiology, personal sensitivities, and the reason for taking these supplements. Speak with your doctor to determine the best dosage for your needs.

Most Tryptophan users can expect to experience no to mild side effects when these supplements are taken at recommended dosages. Mild side effects that have been reported include nausea, heartburn, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Serotonin Syndrome

A more serious side effect to watch out for with Tryptophan supplementation arises from taking very high dosages, or combining Tryptophan with Serotonin-concentration altering drugs, such as prescription antidepressants. The combination of compounds for depression that alter Serotonin concentrations can result in an excess of Serotonin, known as Serotonin Syndrome.

Symptoms of Serotonin Syndrome include agitation, restlessness, headache, muscle stiffness, excessive sweating, and irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, if left untreated, Serotonin Syndrome may be fatal.

Under normal usage, the risk of Serotonin Syndrome is rare. Always use care with dosage and do not combine Tryptophan or 5-HTP supplements with any prescription drugs unless advised to do so by your doctor.

Tryptophan Stacks for Depression

In addition to using Tryptophan for depression, there are a few other options for boosting Serotonin levels. If you do not notice the effects of Tryptophan on your mood after a few weeks, it may be worth investigating other combinations or stronger supplements which may be more effective for your symptoms.

Many people take a 5 HTP supplement for all of the same benefits which come from Tryptophan. 5-HTP may take less time to become active as it is converted directly into Serotonin, unlike Tryptophan, which needs to undergo more metabolic steps to become Serotonin.

Finally, L-Theanine is another popular supplement used to increase Serotonin levels naturally. It is frequently used alongside Tryptophan for depression.

5-HTP

L-Theanine

GABA

Melatonin

Rate This Article

(4 votes, average: 4.25 out of 5, rated)