How long tyrosine

It produces important brain chemicals that help nerve cells communicate and may even regulate mood 1. Despite these benefits, supplementing with tyrosine can have side effects and interact with medications. This article tells you all you need to know about tyrosine, including its benefits, side effects and recommended dosages. Tyrosine is an amino acid that is naturally produced in the body from another amino acid called phenylalanine.

It is also found in chicken, turkey, fish, dairy products and most other high-protein foods 3. Tyrosine helps make several important substances, including 4 :. You can purchase it alone or blended with other ingredients, such as in a pre-workout supplement. Supplementing with tyrosine is thought to increase levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine, adrenaline and norepinephrine. By increasing these neurotransmitters, it may help improve memory and performance in stressful situations 4.

This stress can negatively affect your reasoning, memory, attention and knowledge by decreasing neurotransmitters 8 , 9. For example, rodents who were exposed to cold an environmental stressor had impaired memory due to a decline in neurotransmitters 10 , However, when these rodents were given a tyrosine supplement, the decline in neurotransmitters was reversed and their memory was restored. While rodent data does not necessarily translate to humans, human studies have found similar results.

In one study in 22 women, tyrosine significantly improved working memory during a mentally demanding task, compared to a placebo. Working memory plays an important role in concentration and following instructions In a similar study, 22 participants were given either a tyrosine supplement or placebo before completing a test used to measure cognitive flexibility.

Compared to the placebo, tyrosine was found to improve cognitive flexibility Cognitive flexibility is the ability to switch between tasks or thoughts. The quicker a person can switch tasks, the greater their cognitive flexibility. Additionally, supplementing with tyrosine has been shown to benefit those who are sleep deprived. And while tyrosine may provide cognitive benefits, no evidence has suggested that it enhances physical performance in humans 16 , 17 , Lastly, no research suggests that supplementing with tyrosine in the absence of a stressor can improve mental performance.

Phenylketonuria PKU is a rare genetic condition caused by a defect in the gene that helps create the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase Your body uses this enzyme to convert phenylalanine into tyrosine, which is used to create neurotransmitters 4. However, without this enzyme, your body cannot break down phenylalanine, causing it to build up in the body.

The primary way to treat PKU is to follow a special diet that limits foods containing phenylalanine However, because tyrosine is made from phenylalanine, people with PKU can become deficient in tyrosine, which can contribute to behavioral problems There are no studies specifically showing that L-tyrosine helps to promote weight loss.

These are individual opinions and testimonials that may or may not be supported by controlled clinical studies or published scientific articles. Side Effects L-tyrosine has not been reported to cause any serious side effects.

Interactions with Medicines As of the last update, we found no reported interactions between this supplement and medicines. It is possible that unknown interactions exist. If you take medication, always discuss the potential risks and benefits of adding a new supplement with your doctor or pharmacist. More Resources L-Tyrosine. Where to Find It Dairy products, meats, fish, wheat, oats , and most other protein-containing foods contain tyrosine. Resources See a list of books, periodicals, and other resources for this and related topics.

Related Information. This nutritional supplement regimen led to a significant reduction in withdrawal symptoms and decreased stress in alcoholics compared to the effects of placebo. L-tyrosine is the direct precursor to L-dopa. Theoretically, supplementing L-tyrosine could be an alternative to L-dopa therapy; however, L-tyrosine should not be taken with L-dopa as it may interfere with the transport of L-dopa to the brain.

One small preliminary trial demonstrated that some people with Parkinson's disease who supplemented with L-tyrosine 45 mg per pound of body weight for three years had better clinical results and fewer side effects than did patients using L-dopa. Until these findings are confirmed, L-tyrosine should not be used as a replacement for, or in addition to, L-dopa. Most people should not supplement with L-tyrosine. Some human research with people suffering from a variety of conditions used mg per 2.

The appropriate amount to use in people with PKU is not known, therefore, the monitoring of blood levels by a physician is recommended. Dairy products, meats, fish, wheat, oats , and most other protein-containing foods contain tyrosine.

Some people affected by PKU are deficient in tyrosine. Tyrosine levels are occasionally low in depressed people. Vitamin B6 , folic acid , and copper are necessary for conversion of L-tyrosine into neurotransmitters. L-tyrosine has not been reported to cause any serious side effects. However, it is not known whether long-term use of L-tyrosine, particularly in large amounts such as more than 1, mg per day is safe. For that reason, long-term use of L-tyrosine should be monitored by a doctor.

A multivariate analysis of red blood cell membrane transports and plasma levels of L-tyrosine and L-tryptophan in depressed patients before treatment and after clinical improvement. Neuropsychobiology ; Clinical results of long-term treatment with a low protein diet and a new amino acid preparation in patients with chronic uremia. Clin Nephrol ; Learn more about TraceGains, the company. The information presented by TraceGains is for informational purposes only. But if you have plenty of tyrosine in your bloodstream, that extra stash will replenish the neurotransmitters before stress can deplete them, allowing you to stay sharp for longer without getting burned out.

And because tyrosine is a building block for so many major brain chemicals, it benefits you in a lot of different ways. Tyrosine keeps your brain performing at its best during stress and improves your focus with tasks that demand mental endurance.

Dopamine also influences serotonin, and together, the two are thought to play a central role in regulating your mood. If managing stress helps boost your mood, give it a try. It seems reasonable to think that tyrosine would be great for you if you have an underactive thyroid, but that might not be true. In mice, tyrosine replenished thyroid hormones that were low due to stress. In fact, some hormone doctors report that patients who take tyrosine see a further decrease in thyroid function.

In theory, that could happen because tyrosine boosts norepinephrine, which regulates thyroid hormones and is already often too high in people with hypothyroidism.