Synopsis

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

L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid and a biochemical precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter implicated in mood, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The rationale for using L-tryptophan in OCD is grounded in the serotonin hypothesis, which suggests that reduced serotonergic activity contributes to OCD symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase serotonin levels, are established first-line treatments for OCD, supporting the potential role of serotonin modulation in this condition.

Several small studies and clinical observations from the late 1970s and 1980s investigated L-tryptophan supplementation as a means of increasing brain serotonin and thereby alleviating OCD symptoms. For example, a 1977 study by Insel et al. found that L-tryptophan supplementation appeared to enhance the effects of clomipramine (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor) in some OCD patients. However, these studies were limited by small sample sizes, short duration, and methodological weaknesses. More recent research on L-tryptophan as monotherapy for OCD is lacking, and systematic reviews generally conclude that there is insufficient high-quality evidence to support its clinical use specifically for OCD.

Therefore, while there is a plausible scientific rationale and some historical research suggesting potential benefit, the evidence is weak and not definitive. Most guidelines do not recommend L-tryptophan as a primary or adjunctive treatment for OCD. Its use is best considered experimental and should only be pursued under medical supervision.

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