No. 84

Tyrosine

Who Can Benefit From Supplementing Tyrosine

Tyrosine is a nonessential amino acid which is necessary for the body to produce phenylalanine. It is an important building block for making the brain chemicals dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters influence and regulate mood and help your nerve cells communicate.  Tyrosine is needed in order to produce and regulate hormones. This amino acid is deficient in cases of sleep deprivation, depression, and hypothyroid conditions. Tyrosine is responsible for melanin pigment in skin and hair.  Although it is unusual to be deficient in tyrosine, this amino acid can help with the following conditions;

• Stress- through its production of epinephrine & norepinephrine
• Alcohol and drug addiction recovery
• Over-active central nervous system disorders
• Parkinson’s
• Low dopamine
• Depression
• Memory
• Coping with psychological stress
• Low thyroid (do not if you have an overactive thyroid condition)
• Sleep deprivation recovery
• Athletic performance
• Seizure prevention

Who Should Not Take Tyrosine?

Anyone who has a serious condition called PKU (phenylketonuria). Persons with PKU are deficient in tyrosine but taking a supplement can result in brain damage. If you have PKU, your doctor will need to determine whether you need more tyrosine- how much and what source.

Dietary Sources

• Chicken & Turkey
• Fish
• Bananas
• Nuts– peanuts, almonds
• Beans– soy & lima
• Avocados
• Protein Powder
• Cheese, cottage cheese & yogurt
• Seeds—sesame, pumpkin

Supplement Dosage–  B6, Folate, & Copper in the diet are needed for Tyrosine to convert into brain chemicals.

Average dosage is 500 to 1000 mg 1-3 x per day on an empty stomach or 1 hour before a meal or 2 hours after eating. The average adult dosage is 75 mg per 1 pound of weight per day.

Precautions

Persons who have migraines should avoid this supplement as it may trigger a headache. Persons with digestive disorders may experience stomach upset in some cases or dosages. No one with Graves disease should take tyrosine because it helps the body product thyroid hormone. DO NOT take tyrosine if you take MAOIs for high blood pressure-hypertension. A conflict with MAOIs can lead to a heart attack or stroke from a rapid increase in blood pressure called hypertensive crisis.

DO NOT take Tyrosine if you take any of these drugs—

• Parnate (tranylcypromine)
• Marplan (isocarboxazid)
• Nardil (phenelzine)
• Selegiline
• Thyroid medications
• L-dopa (levodopa)
• Medications for high blood pressure, all MAOIs
• Anti-depressants
• Synthetic hormones- unless checking with your physician
• Any drugs for suppressing the central nervous system or if you have a sub-functioning central nervous system
• Any drugs for Parkinson’s Disease- these may be a conflict- see your doctor for information