Viridian L’Tryptophan Capsules

Our Price:  £8.55 Size:   30 Capsules:  £8.5590 capsules:  £21.45 Code:  VDNLT30 Brand:  Viridian Availability:

 Viridian L’Tryptophan Capsules

Information: Of the eight essential amino acids, tryptophan is the least common, accounting for approximately 1 per cent of total protein content.  After absorption from the gut to the bloodstream, tryptophan is carried by proteins and in free form to peripheral sites, where typically 90 percent is used for protein synthesis, about 3 percent is converted to the crucial neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HTP), and the balance is used to produce niacin.  Lobbying by the health charity the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) in 2002 prompted the UK's food authorities to re-examine the safety of tryptophan that had been thrown into doubt by health problems caused by a contaminated batch produced in Japan in 1989. To meet the highest possible purity standards Viridian uses laevorotatory tryptophan (L-tryptophan) meeting the purity criteria laid out in European Pharmacopeia (EP).

• DEPRESSION - L-Tryptophan has been used with success to help treat various forms of depression. In a double-blind study comparing Tryptophan with a commonly used medication (Imipramine), Tryptophan was found to give 'highly statistically significant improvements'. Whilst the patients who were given the drug had a more rapid reduction in symptoms, over a longer period of time the tryptophan had equal efficacy with fewer side effects than the Imipramine group. Recent research suggests that experimental lowering of tryptophan, and hence serotonin, appears to impair learning and memory and can cause depressed mood, especially in people who have a family history of depression.

• INSOMNIA - Serotonin is an important initiator of sleep, as it is made from the amino acid tryptophan.  Taking tryptophan will raise serotonin levels and promote sleep.  Tryptophan is more effective for cases of sleep-onset insomnia, since its greatest effect is to shorten the time required to get to sleep (referred to as sleep latency).  L-tryptophan is effective in reducing sleep onset time on the first night of administration in doses over 1g.  In more chronic, well-established sleep-onset insomnia or in more severe insomnias characterized by both sleep onset and sleep maintenance problems, repeated administration of low doses of L-tryptophan over time may be required for therapeutic improvement. German research reveals that up to 2g L-tryptophan per day can be recommended for the treatment of severe chronic insomnia.

• FIBROMYALGIA - Fibromyalgia syndrome is a musculoskeletal pain and fatigue disorder manifested by diffuse myalgia, localized areas of tenderness, fatigue, lowered pain thresholds, and non-restorative sleep. Evidence from multiple sources, support the concept of decreased flux through the serotonin pathway in fibromyalgia patients. Serotonin substrate supplementation, via L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), has been shown to improve symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and somatic pains in a variety of patient cohorts.

• MIGRAINE and TENSION HEADACHE - Because migraine sufferers have low levels of serotonin in their tissues, some researchers refer to migraine as a ‘low serotonin syndrome’.  Scientists believe that low levels of serotonin may make people susceptible to developing migraine headaches. Many people with migraine also have a problem with motion sickness, but it is not clear why this might be.  It is known that many drugs to treat motion sickness increase brain levels of serotonin, an important brain chemical. One possible theory surrounding migraine is - a hyposerotoninergic (low serotonin) condition can facilitate the nitric oxide (NO)-induced physiological and pathological responses in meningeal and cerebral micro-vessels.

• WEIGHT LOSS - A considerable body of scientific evidence documents the major role serotonin in the brain plays in influencing eating behaviour.  One of the key findings is that when animals and humans are fed tryptophan-free diets, appetite is significantly increased, resulting in binge eating.  A diet low in tryptophan leads to low brain serotonin levels; as a result the brain senses it is starving and so stimulates the appetite centres in a powerful way.  This stimulation results in a preference for carbohydrates.

To help maximise metabolism of tryptophan through to serotonin it has been shown that magnesium, vitamin B6 and B3 can assist conversion. Low plasma levels of serotonin have been implicated in migraine pathogenesis, and niacin (B3) may act as a negative feedback regulator on the kynurenine pathway to shunt tryptophan into the serotonin pathway, thus increasing plasma serotonin levels.

There is a wealth of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living.  The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era result in lowered levels of serotonin within the brain. Depleted tryptophan levels can contribute to the following: obesity, sugar cravings and other carbohydrates, bouts of depression, frequent headaches, and vague muscle aches and pains.

Recommended Intake: 220mg (1 capsule) daily or as recommended by a healthcare practitioner.  Best taken away from other protein containing foods. Current government proposals have led to conservative restrictions on L-tryptophan dosage (hence 220mg), despite the known benefits of higher dose availability.  Currently the Netherlands permits doses of up to 600mg, and Japan that allows 1g to be consumed in supplement form. No adverse effects noted at normal dosage (up to 2g per day).

To help maximise metabolism of tryptophan through to serotonin it has been shown that magnesium, vitamin B6 and B3 can assist conversion.

Low plasma levels of serotonin have been implicated in migraine pathogenesis, and niacin (B3) may act as a negative feedback regulator on the kynurenine pathway to shunt tryptophan into the serotonin pathway, thus increasing plasma serotonin levels.