Synopsis

Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 2

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that serves as a precursor for serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood regulation, sleep, and anxiety. The use of L-tryptophan to support neurosis—an outdated term now generally referring to non-psychotic mental disorders such as anxiety and depression—has some scientific basis, mainly due to its role in serotonin synthesis. Several studies from the late 20th century investigated L-tryptophan supplementation for mood and anxiety disorders, with some reporting modest benefits, particularly in cases of mild depression and anxiety symptoms. Clinical trials have demonstrated that L-tryptophan can increase brain serotonin levels, potentially leading to improved mood and reduced anxiety, which are prominent features of neurosis. However, the quality and size of these studies vary, and more recent large-scale, high-quality trials are lacking. Moreover, safety concerns, such as the outbreak of eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome linked to contaminated tryptophan supplements in the 1980s, led to regulatory caution and decreased its widespread use. Overall, while there is some scientific rationale for using L-tryptophan in mood and anxiety-related aspects of neurosis, the supporting evidence is limited and not robust. Most modern guidelines do not recommend L-tryptophan as a primary treatment for such conditions, favoring other interventions with stronger evidence bases.

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Nature's Sunshine Free Amino Acids