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L-Tyrosine
- indication:Tyrosine is claimed to act as an effective antidepressant, however results are mixed. Tyrosine has also been claimed to reduce stress and combat narcolepsy and chronic fatigue, however these claims have been refuted by some studies.
- pharmacologypharmacology:
- mechanism: Tyrosine is produced in cells by hydroxylating the essential amino acid phenylalanine. This relationship is much like that between cysteine and methionine. Half of the phenylalanine required goes into the production of tyrosine; if the diet is rich in tyrosine itself, the requirements for phenylalanine are reduced by about 50%. The mechanism of L-tyrosine's antidepressant activity can be accounted for by the precursor role of L-tyrosine in the synthesis of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine. Elevated brain norepinephrine and dopamine levels are thought to be associated with antidepressant effects.
- toxicity: L-Tyrosine has very low toxicity. There have been very few reports of toxicity. LD<sub>50</sub> (oral, rat) > 5110 mg/kg.
- absorprion: L-tyrosine is absorbed from the small intestine by a sodium-dependent active transport process.
- halflife:
- roouteelimination:
- volumedistribution:
- clearance: