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Tryptophan - Sleep-Inducing

Out of all essential amino acids, the most research has been carried out by nutritional researchers on tryptophan. It is also known as a sleep-inducing amino acid.

Recommended Daily Allowance - Tryptophan
Men	3 mg
Women	3 mg
Children	4 mg
Infants	19 mg

Tryptophan Benefits - Functions in the Body

Tryptophan plays a significant role in the synthesis of one of the B complex group of vitamins called niacin or nicotinic acid. In the human system, an average of about 1 mg of niacin is formed from 60 mg of dietary tryptophan.

This amino acid is also essential for blood clotting and formation of digestive juices. It induces sleep and relaxes the nervous system. It wards off signs of premature ageing, such as cataract of the eyes, baldness, deterioration of sex gland functioning, and malformation of tooth enamel.

Tryptophan is also important as a major precursor of the transmitter amine, serotinin, in the central nervous system.

Tryptophan can be used as a safe and effective food remedy for certain ailments, especially insomnia and emotional complaints. .

Insomnia. Tryptophan is a precursor of serotinin which is regarded as an effective sleep-inducing agent. Researches have been carried out by Dr E. Hartmann of Boston State Hospital on the therapeutic effectiveness of tryptophan in insomnia. He has reported: 'In our studies we found that a dose of one gram of tryptophan would cut down the time it takes to fall asleep from twenty to ten minutes. Its great advantage is that not only do you get to sleep sooner, but you do so without distortions in sleep patterns that are produced by most sleeping pills.' It has been found that tryptophan is an effective hypnotic when administered at any time of the day, and that it significantly reduces the time of onset of sleep without affecting the various stages of sleep.

Aches and Pains. Tryptophan is regarded as a natural painkiller. A study at the Department of Neurology at the University of Tampere in Finland, indicates that this amino acid has potential as a pain-reducing agent.

Emotional Complaints. Research has shown that there is an inverse relationship between tryptophan consumption and emotional. complaints. Increasing the tryptophan intake decreases the number and severity of such complaints. Studies carried out on a group of 66 individuals who were given tryptophan supplementation for several months indicated that those who had increased their intake from 1001 mg per day to an average of 1331 mg per day, showed a remarkable decrease in the number of psychological complaints, whereas those who had not altered their tryptophan intake showed no change.

Tryptophan is best taken between meals with a low­protein food such as fruit juice or bread. One to three grams a day seems to be the range favoured by most researchers.

< p>Tooth Decay. A recent experiment has shown that tryptophan can prevent tooth decay. According to a report by Naomi C. Turner of Radcliffe College, this amino acid offers distinct promise as a preventive' for dental decay. This is based on the finding that it slows down the rate of starch decomposition. It was previously noted that there was a definite relationship between tooth decay and the rate of starch decomposition. Persons with twenty or more cavities were found to produce saliva which decomposed starchy food very rapidly. Persons with little or no tooth decay produced saliva which decomposed starch very slowly. Thus, if tryptophan in some form(in a toothpaste, as a chewing gum, even mixed with starchy food) could sl9w down the rate of carbohydrate decomposition, then in all likelihood, the rate of tooth decay could also be greatly lessened.

Recent research by Dr G. Chowinard of Mc Gill University, Montreal, indicates that the functional useful­ness of tryptophan is enhanced by the concurrent supplementation of nicotinic acid. The ratio suggested is two parts of tryptophan to one part of nicotinic acid.

Tryptophan Deficiency Symptoms

The failure of absorption of tryptophan in cases of intestinal disorders can cause increased sensitivity to light, leading to excessive scaling of the skin on exposure to the sun. A deficiency of tryptophan and niacin causes pellagra, a deficiency disease characterised by three Ds: dermatitis, diarrhoea, dementia.

Tryptophan Food Sources - Food high in Tryptophan

Generally all seeds, nuts, and most vegetables contain tryptophan. The best sources of this amino acid, however, are bajra, barley, finger millet, colocasia, sweet potatoes, cashew nuts, mangoes, papayas, and milk.

Tryptophan Side Effects - Precautions

The use of supplementary tryptophan should be avoided during pregnancy.

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