Category Archives: L-tryptophan

Tyrosine and Tryptophan: Neurotransmitter Modulation

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Robert Barrington

Neurotransmitters are signal messengers used in the central nervous system. The central nervous system including the brain uses electrical signals to allow communication between neurones. However, gaps (synapses) between the neurones prevent the electrical signals travelling directly from one neurone … Continue reading →

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Aspartame Alters Brain Chemistry?

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Robert Barrington

Aspartame, also called L-aspartate-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, is an artificial sweetener used extensively in the food industry to replace sugar. The growth in demand for diet drinks initially fuelled increased consumption of aspartame amongst humans. However, more recently it has become … Continue reading →

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Tyrosine Fights Fatigue

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Robert Barrington

-tyrosine is an amino acid that can be synthesised in humans from the essential amino acid L-phenylalanine. Nutritional interest in L-tyrosine has expanded in recent decades because of military research showing that supplementation with L-tyrosine reduces battle stress and improves … Continue reading →

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Aspartame, Serotonin and Rats

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Robert Barrington

The macronutrient composition of the diet is known to have a direct influence on the amino acid content of the blood. In turn the plasma amino acid levels are known to be able to alter brain chemistry by shifting the … Continue reading →

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Tryptophan, Protein and Stress

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Robert Barrington

During times of stress, brain levels of tryptophan increase suggesting that serotonin is somehow involved in the adaptive process to stabilise mood during times of perceived threat. Prolonged stress however, can lead to depression which is often characterised by reduced … Continue reading →

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