GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid found
naturally in almonds, avocados, bananas, beans, brewer’s yeast, cheese, cottage cheese, dairy
products, eggs, fish, lactalbumin, legumes, lima beans,
meat, milk, nuts, peanuts, pickled herring, pumpkin seeds,
seafood, seeds, sesame seeds, soy, whey, and whole grains.
ROLE FOR ANTI-AGING:
Tyrosine is a precursor for the neurotransmitters
L-dopa, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Due to its effect on neurotransmitters, it is thought that tyrosine may benefit people with
Parkinson’s disease, dementia, depression, and other mood disorders. A
study of US marines found that the amino acid helps to increase alertness in people suffering from sleep deprivation. Skin cells use
tyrosine to form melanin, the pigment that protects
against the skin from the damaging effects of ultraviolet
light. Thyroid hormones, which play many important roles
throughout the body, also contain tyrosine as part of their structure. In fact, tyrosine is used to
produce the hormone thyroxin, which is important in
the regulation of growth and metabolism, and is required for
healthy skin and the maintenance of mental health.
Finally, tyrosine may be of benefit to people who suffer from PKU.
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS:
Signs and symptoms of tyrosine deficiency
include: apathy, blood sugar imbalances, depression, edema, fat loss, fatigue, lethargy, liver
damage, loss of pigmentation in hair, low serum levels of
essential blood proteins, mood disorders, muscle loss, skin
lesions, slowed growth in children, and
weakness.
THERAPEUTIC DAILY AMOUNT:
The therapeutic dosage of tyrosine is 7 to 30
g daily, depending upon requirements.
MAXIMUM SAFE LEVEL:
A maximum safe level for tyrosine has not
been established. Furthermore, it is not known whether long-term, high-dosage (i.e. doses in
excess of 1,000mg a day) use of Ltyrosine is safe. For this
reason, long-term use of tyrosine at any dosage should be
monitored by a doctor.
SIDE EFFECTS/CONTRAINDICATIONS:
Supplementary tyrosine can cause hypertension,
hypotension, and migraine headaches in
susceptible individuals. People who are allergic to eggs,
milk, and wheat, and those who suffer from migraine
headaches, phenylketonuria (PKU), melanoma, and hypertension should not take tyrosine.
If taken in combination with monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) antidepressants, for example
isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and procarbazine, tyrosine can
cause potentially dangerous hypertension. People with kidney disease or liver disease should
consult their doctor before taking tyrosine.
