Posted by Adam on August 22, 2001, at 16:21:30
In reply to Re: No MAOI food reaction? » djmmm, posted by Elizabeth on August 22, 2001, at 14:19:58
When I said that the amino acids in the supplement lacked the sympathomimmetic properties of tyramine, perhaps I should have been more clear, in that they can have some effects after conversion, as Elizabeth perhaps has pointed out. Phenylalanine, I would think, would be roughly analagous to tyrosine: The former is converted to tyrosine by phenylalanine hydroxylase, and then tyrosine hydroxylase gives you L-DOPA, blah, blah, blah.Both, interestingly, can antagonize the effects of trypophan. Why, I'm not sure, unless this is all related to the neurotransmitter products.
Anyway, since catalysis is required to yield elevated catecholamines, and this process is feedback-regulated to maintain homeostasis, I was under the impression the real risk of reactions with reasonable consumption of these amino-acid supplements is low. Is this mistaken?
> I'm not sure about phenylalanine. Tryptophan and tyrosine supplements have been known to cause reactions (serotonin syndrome with tryptophan, hypertensive crisis with tyrosine), although they won't necessarily cause problems for everyone or every time they're used.
poster:Adam
thread:75656
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010822/msgs/76008.html