Cited by 86Tryptophan and brain disordersNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorTreatment of Major Depression

Behavioral effects of dietary neurotransmitter precursors: Basic and clinical aspects

Young, Simon N.·1996·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Abstract

The levels and possibly function of several neurotransmitters can be influenced by the supply of their dietary precursors. The neurotransmitters include serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, histamine, acetylcholine and glycine, which are formed from tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, choline and threonine. Tryptophan has been tested more than the other precursors in clinical trials and is currently available in some countries for the treatment of depression. Other uses for tryptophan and the therapeutic potential of other neurotransmitter precursors have not been tested adequately. Given the relative lack of toxicity of dietary components, further clinical trials with neurotransmitter precursors should be carried out.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/0149-7634(95)00022-4

Cites

148 of 148 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Selective increases in tyrosine intake may benefit aspects of human behavior and cognition that are under catecholaminergic control.

    “In short, selective increases in the intake of tyrosine may benefit those aspects of human behavior and cognition that are under the catecholaminergic control (Young, 1996).”
  • The side effects of tyrosine appear milder and less frequent than those of methylphenidate, though toxicity data on long-term use are lacking.

    “At the same time, the side effects of tyrosine appear to be milder and less frequent (Young, 1996) than those of methylphenidate (Linssen et al., 2014), though toxicity data on their long-term use are lacking.”
  • The quality of the reviewed studies was better than that of the case studies and mostly uncontrolled studies previously described by Young (1996).

    “This suggests that their quality was better than that of the case studies and mostly uncontrolled studies previously described by Young (1996).”

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Authors
Young, S. N.
Affiliations
McGill University (CA)
Corresponding author
Young, Simon N.
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1996-01
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
313-323
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2009278722
Cited by
86
References
150
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 1
FWCI
0.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Medical Research Council
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
Keywords
tryptophan, tyrosine, histidine, choline, threonine, serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, histamine, acetylcholine, glycine, depression treatment, behavioral effects, amino acid supplementation
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Behavior, Animal, Mental Disorders, Diet, Humans, Neurotransmitter Agents

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