Protein source tryptophan versus pharmaceutical grade tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for chronic insomnia
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Intact protein rich in tryptophan was not seen as an alternative to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan since protein also contains large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) that compete for transport sites across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Deoiled gourd seed (an extremely rich source of tryptophan-22 mg tryptophan/1 g protein) was combined with glucose, a carbohydrate that reduces serum levels of competing LNAAs which was then compared to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan with carbohydrate as well as carbohydrate alone. METHOD: Objective and subjective measures of sleep were employed to measure changes in sleep as part of a double blind placebo controlled study where subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Protein source tryptophan (deoiled gourd seed) in combination with carbohydrate; (2) pharmaceutical grade tryptophan in combination with carbohydrate; (3) carbohydrate alone. SUBJECTS: Out of 57 subjects 49 of those who began the study completed the three week protocol. RESULTS: Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate and pharmaceutical grade tryptophan, but not carbohydrate alone, resulted in significant improvement on subjective and objective measures of insomnia. Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate alone proved effective in significantly reducing time awake during the night. CONCLUSION: Protein source tryptophan is comparable to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan for the treatment of insomnia.
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In a comparison of food bars, Food 1 (25 g deoiled butternut squash seed meal and 25 g dextrose) and Food 2 (250 mg pharmaceutical tryptophan) produced significant results (p ≤ 0.05) for reduction of time awake during the night (19.2% and 22.1%), increased sleep efficiency (5.19% and 7.36%) and increased subjective sleep quality (12.2% and 11.8%).
“Food 1 and Food 2 produced significant results (p ≤ 0.05) for reduction of time awake during the night (19.2% and 22.1%), increased sleep efficiency (% of time spent in bed; asleep) (5.19% and 7.36%) and increased subjective sleep quality (12.2% and 11.8%) [53], indicating that relatively small doses (250 mg) of dietary tryptophan can positively impact sleep.”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [53]
Relatively small doses (250 mg) of dietary tryptophan can positively impact sleep.
“indicating that relatively small doses (250 mg) of dietary tryptophan can positively impact sleep.”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [53]
Dietary tryptophan has been shown to improve sleep.
“Dietary tryptophan has been shown to improve sleep, in a comparison of food bars (Food 1: 25 g deoiled butternut squash seed meal and 25 g dextrose, Food 2: 250 mg of pharmaceutical tryptophan and Food 3: 50 g rolled oats [control]) [53].”
From Sleep and Nutrition Interactions: Implications for Athletes (2019) · cites this paper as [53]
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- Authors
- Hudson, C., Hudson, S. P., Hecht, T., & MacKenzie, J.
- Affiliations
- Concordia University (CA)
- Venue
- Nutritional Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2005-04
- Volume
- 8
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 121-127
- ISSN
- 1028-415X (ISSN-L)
- 1476-8305
- OpenAlex
- W2004548153
- Cited by
- 81
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.72
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Nutritional Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Keywords
- tryptophan, chronic insomnia, carbohydrates, large neutral amino acids, blood-brain barrier, sleep
- MeSH terms
- Biological Availability, Blood-Brain Barrier, Chronic Disease, Dietary Carbohydrates, Dietary Proteins, Double-Blind Method, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Female, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Middle Aged, Placebos, Seeds, Sleep, Time Factors, Tryptophan, Wakefulness, Twin Studies as Topic, Avena, Cucurbita
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