Life Extension, TryptoPure L-Tryptophan, 90 vegetarian capsules
(LEF-00866)

L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid, which means it cannot be synthesized by the human body and therefore must be part of the diet or supplementation. The best sources for tryptophan are high protein foods such as oats, bananas, dried dates, dairy products, fish, many nuts, and poultry.

Tryptophan is critical in helping your body produce proteins for muscle, hair, and skin. Unfortunately tryptophan is the least abundant amino acid in your diet. Even a person on a high protein diet gets less than 1.5 grams of tryptophan a day. What's more, when you ingest tryptophan it undergoes a process that dramatically reduces the amount actually absorbed. Some experts estimate that only 1% of the dietary tryptophan you take in reaches the brain. For some this is sufficient, but for others, low levels can adversely affect sleep, weight, and mood.

Tryptophan is a precursor for serotonin. Unlike other products that indirectly influence serotonin production or increase metabolism, L-tryptophan is a direct precursor that results in almost immediate increases in circulating serotonin, which is one of the primary neurohormones involved with sleep and mood.

In those people with low serotonin levels, L-tryptophan has been shown to help establish and maintain healthy levels, which may help to improve mood1 and reduce tension. In those people with serotonin levels already within the normal range, L-tryptophan acts as a natural sleep aid, not only helping people fall asleep,2-5 but also helping them stay asleep throughout the night and wake without grogginess. For this reason, some experts believe tryptophan can be a safe and effective sleep aid when added to your diet as a supplement. Supplementing your diet with tryptophan, specifically TryptoPure™, may mean a more restful night's sleep, a brighter, mood and a host of other benefits.

Until recently, Ajinomoto only sold their TryptoPure™ brand tryptophan for medical use through doctors, hospitals and other professional health care facilities. It is the only tryptophan to have an FDA-approved Drug Master File. That means it's pure enough to be used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient in pharmaceutical products.

Life Extension has selected TryptoPure™ as its tryptophan of choice. TryptoPure™ is the most trusted tryptophan available today. TryptoPure™ is suitable for vegetarians, additive-free, solvent-free, 100% fermented, and GMP certified.

TryptoPure™ is a trademark of Ajinomoto Company, Inc.

Serotonin syndrome is characterized by high levels of serotonin and symptoms like confusion, sweating, agitation, nausea, involuntary muscle contractions, and racing heartbeat. Do not take L-tryptophan if you experience these symptoms. Do not take L-tryptophan in combination with other agents that increase serotonin levels in the central nervous system. Agents that increase serotonin levels can induce psychiatric medications (e.g. antidepressants, lithium), migraine medications (e.g. sumatriptan), Parkinson's disease medications (e.g. carbidopa), and dextromethorphan, an over-the-counter cough suppressant.