So I've been battling minor non pain cause migraines (the kind that make you nauseous, see stars, and discern light headed), insomnia, and mild depression for a long time. Probably for the past 10-12 years of my life. I go to many doctors and tried many medicines but zilch worked. So I finally did my own research (often find doctors aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer). They never ran a interview for tryptophan levels in the blood, or even a B12 test. So I established to try various amino acids such as tyrosine and tryptophan, 5-HTP, melatonin over the course of a few years. I eventually concluded I have a tryptophan deficiency.

My ask is why can I eat foods that contain tryptophan but get little benefit as oppose to taking pure tryptophan.

My conclusion is that any:
A) there is a missing enzyme in my genetics that prevents or margins my body's ability of breaking down some types of protein and harvesting the tryptophan amino acid. Turkey seem to work great for this for people, but chicken doesn't do it as well? Maybe certain proteins are easier for your body to search out the tryptophan from? Why doesn't soy or milk work as well, but the tryptophan suppliment and turkey works.

B) Other amino acids are competing for the same enzymes, so the amino acid tryptophan which is typically the limiting amino sour in most proteins is mal-absorbed.

c) I had thought maybe an enzyme that converts tryptophan and tyrosine into their amines be lacking, and causing ADD, but the tyrosine has almost no effect while the tryptophan works only as well as 5-HTP.

d) my pineal glan is over active making too much melatonin, which makes more melatonin and uses up too much seratonin contained by the process. This over activity would be caused by an abundance of shadows or over sleeping. This is likely to be a partial cause as in winter the problems be far worse.

e) there is an intestinal issue, or gut flora issue involved with the absorption of tryptophan containing proteins and their break down.

f) a liver problem which cause the body not to produce certain enzymes or poorly process tryptophan containing proteins.

Anyone know of the specific proteins that contain significant amounts of tryptophan, and the specific enzymes and genes that control their break down?
Answers:    i pick (e) ... perhaps you are also dealing with unaddressed food intolerances . for example, if you are lactose intolerant and it remains unaddressed next your whole system is compromised .. and continuing to eat foods to which you are intolerant will definitely frizzle your brain .. i know that one from not easy experience.

all protein rich foods are rich in Tryptophan as you know ... thing is, if you are lactose intolerant or soy intolerant . as i am . afterwards there's not much use eating or drinking anything containing either ingredient . which basically wrecks drinking out of a packet. take note of how you feel after consumption and try to eliminate any foods that aggravate your system.

try getting your protein from lean organic meats and fishes and natural nuts and seeds such as almonds, brazil nuts, sunflower seeds and see if that makes a difference. at hand is of course also the issue that you may be deficient in anyone of the B complex of vitamins . B6 (pyridoxine) and B3 (niacin) work within conjunction with tryptophan. along with the essential fatty acids.

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that's used by the brain - along near B6, B3, and magesium (known as the antistress mineral) - to produce serotonin (the natural feel good drug), a neurotransmitter that carry messages between the brain and one of the body's biochemical mechanisms of sleep.

The EFA's in foods rich in omega 3's such as cold hose fishes like tuna, salmon, sardines and whiting are also essential in this process to nourish the neurons that are unloading the messages from the neurotransmitters. Cold water fishes such as salmon are particularly rich in the EFA's and will do a brilliant opportunity of levelling out your stress and depression levels and smoothing any mood swings . i've found fish particularly beneficial for mood swings and stress & depression as they are also rich surrounded by Tryptophan.

I would suggest that you take a B complex to ensure you are getting adequate B vitamins . don't take any of the B's individually but a bit as a whole group as they work best synergistically .. all supplements are not the same though . please consult the instore naturopath at your local robustness food store as to which would be the easiest for your body to assimilate .. no point buying something that is indigestible and therefore useless. the best quality supplement you can buy are pharmaceutical level.

Vitamin B3 (niacin), part of the B complex of vitamins has been shown to abet prevent and alleviate the severity of severe headaches and migraines ... however, a person whose body is deficient contained by B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin) and B6 (pyridoxine) wil not be able to produce niacin from tryptophan ... so take a complex that contains the whole B complex ie ~ B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12, folic tart etc.;0)

oh, eat more leafy and green vegies as well like broccolli, kale, chard, buk choy, celery . adjectives rich in calcium and magnesium.

i really do hope that this helps a little.

peace newborn
Source(s): naturopath in training

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Is in attendance an MD out in..

Here ya go!
http://www.healthvitaminsguide.com/amino...

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Hey a short time ago wondering what..

Sounds like you could write a book going on for the topic.
But I don't think there is any blood test for tryptofan.
And you can't enjoy a deficiency of it - it's substance in turkey that makes you tired, and can help out with sleep.

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Has anyone used hypnotherapy ?