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Re: No MAOI food reaction?

Posted by Adam on August 23, 2001, at 10:32:45

In reply to Re: No MAOI food reaction? » Adam, posted by SLS on August 23, 2001, at 7:08:02


>
> Perhaps it is because they both compete with tryptophan to cross the blood-brain barrier.
>


This has jogged my memory, and I think you are exactly right: Tyrosine and phenylalanine compete with tryptophan in that way. I guess, then, theoretically, taking tryptophan with tyrosine and/or phenylalanine might be safer than a tryptophan supplement by itself. That might be pushing it, though.

I remember reading, a long time ago, when I was exploring ways to deal with insomnia on an MAOI, the potential problems with tryptophan and melatonin became rather obvious: Sure there's metabolic conversion, but (especially with melatonin), the supplement is likely contaminated with 5-HTP or serotonin. Melatonin may be manufactured from a pineal gland extract (chew on that, mad-cow vigilantes), where serotonin is converted to melatonin, and is likely not to be 100% pure. Same goes with a number of amino acid supplements: These things are likely extracts of some form or another. I think there were other issues with tryptophan, some kind of mystery contaminant that was even causing deaths in some instances. I don't know the full story with that, though, and don't want to speculate on it too much.

Suffice to say, supplements, used in moderation, are probably not a risk. However, if one is healthy and has a good, well-balanced diet, exercises, etc., there is little or no evidence that these health-food suplements do anything but waste your money. Your body makes or you ingest in food as much as your body will ever need, and taking more does very little to improve your health. Just my $0.02.



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