Posted by andrewb on October 13, 1999, at 17:47:53
In reply to Re: Amino Acid -- phenylalanine -- DLPA?? & delet, posted by dj on October 13, 1999, at 0:15:32
I have tried phenylalanine for depression but it didn’t help me. I experienced racing thoughts, iritability and restlessness without any improvement in mood. This, I’ve read, indicates I didn’t have low levels of 2 phenyl-ethylamine (2-PEA). Some depresssed people have low levels of 2-PEA and can experience an antidepressant effect when taking the precursor to 2-PEA, phenylalanine. Individuals with low 2-PEA levels tend to have atypical depression; overeating, hypersomnia and mood worse in the P.M. Interestingly, these individuals also tend to binge on chocolate, which supposedly contains 2-PEA. Unfortunatley phenylalanine’s antidepressant effect is relativlely short lived, after a few weeks subjects become tolerant to it. Basically 2-PEA has an amphetimine like effect on the brain. I can’t remember, but it may be actually chemical related to amphetamines.
Phenylalanine can be combined with selegeline to help with depression. The selegeline slows the metabolization of 2-PEA (among other things) while phenylalanine supplies the precursor to 2-PEA. See Bob’s ‘Tips’ page under a keyword search for ‘selegeline’ for more information.
Does phenylalanine also increase dopamine levels? Yes and no. Phenlyaline converts also to tyrosine, an amino acid which converts to dopamine. But, as anyone who has taken tyrosine can tell you, more tyrosine doesn’t mean a proportionate increase in dopamine pathway activity. The body has some mechanism(s) that limit the amount of dopamine that can be produced from the tyrosine that we eat.
poster:andrewb
thread:12985
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19991001/msgs/13098.html