Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid synthesized in the body from the essential amino acid phenylalanine. The typical dietary amount provided by a 3 oz portion of animal protein is 0.3-1 g of tyrosine.

Tyrosine is the precursor amino acid from which the body makes Dopamine (with vitamin B6 as cofactor), which is then converted to Nor-epinephrine (with vitamin C as cofactor ) and then to Epinephrine (with SAMe as cofactor). Tyrosine competes for uptake with other large neutral amino acids, so in order to maximize absorption from the supplemented Tyrosine into various tissues (such as brain, adrenals, nerves), it should be taken on an empty stomach, or two hours away from a protein containing meal.

Size: 100 gram container
Each 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) contains

• Tyrosine 1000 mg

Other Ingredients: Magnesium stearate.

Recommended Use
As a dietary supplement, mix 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) per day in water or as directed by your health care practitioner.

Store In A Cool, Dry Place. Keep Out Of Reach Of Children.

WARNING: Consult your health care practitioner before use if you are pregnant or nursing or if you are taking prescription medication such as MAO Inhibitors.

Read Customer questions and answers about Adrenal Fatigue in our FAQ.

Research Review

Research shows that supplementation with Tyrosine in the range of 30-150 mg/kg body weight may provide the following benefits:

1. Compensates for the age related decline in Tyrosine metabolism [1]
2. Supports fat loss regimens as follows:
   • may reduce appetite[20, 21]
   • maintains NE (Norepinephrine) production which stimulates fat release from the fat cells [22, 25]
3. Supports the brain Dopamine/ Norepinephrine production, thus providing support for:
   • cognitive performance (memory and learning) and uplifted mood4, [17]
   • mood disorders associated with oral contraceptive use [21]
   • anti-depressant therapies whether natural or pharmacologica[l8]
   • maintenance of an alert state in spite of inadequate sleep [7]
   • therapies for Dopamine related addictions (cocaine, amphetamine, smoking) [24], Phenylketonuria [13], Parkinson's[23] and Alzheimer's[26].
   • therapies for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome[27]
4. Supports the Dopamine/Norepineprine/ Epinephrine production by the adrenal gland and consequently:
   • compensates for adrenaline depletion states such as excessive psychological or physical stress and dieting [11, 18]
   • prevents excessive rises in cortisol levels [12]
5. Improves stamina for exercise by providing the precursor to E/NE release from nerve endings[28]
6. Precursor to Thyroid hormone [15]
7. Precursor to Melanin, which is protective against UV radiation [16]

Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid synthesized in the body from the essential amino acid phenylalanine. The typical dietary amount provided by a 3 oz portion of animal protein is 0.3-1g of tyrosine. Tyrosine is the precursor amino acid from which the body makes Dopamine (with vit B6 as cofactor), which is then converted to NE (Norepinephrine) (with vitamin C as cofactor ) and then to E (Epinephrine) (with SAMe as cofactor).

Tyrosine competes for uptake with other LNAA (Large Neutral Amino Acids), so in order to maximize absorption from the supplemented Tyrosine into various tissues (such as brain, adrenals, nerves); it should be taken on an empty stomach or two hours away from a protein containing meal.

Ingesting Tyrosine with a snack/meal of high glycemic carbohydrates at the same time will facilitate its entry in the brain by pushing certain competitor amino acids into the muscle. However, this scenario involves a large surge of insulin which in most cases is not beneficial.

Here are some highlights from studies with Tyrosine that found benefits as stated to the left:

1. Tyrosine metabolism declines with age, so, in addition to the Tyrosine provided by the diet, supplemental Tyrosine may be needed, along with higher doses of all the necessary cofactors: vit C, B6, Folic acid, SAMe. [1]
   
   
2. "Tyrosine might alleviate some of the different pathophysiological problems associated with the stress of weight loss." [1]
   
   "Tyrosine concentrations rise as much as two- to threefold between 0% and 10% dietary protein content. This increase produces a clear stimulation of the rate of catecholamine synthesis, observed both for DA and NE, and notably in the hypothalamus, a brain area involved in appetite regulation." [20]
   
   
3. "These results suggest that tyrosine plasma levels and cathecholamines may be important factors in regulating mood and memory." [17]
   
   "On the very first day of treatment with oral-tyrosine (3,200 mg/day) a return to mood, as judged by clinical impression and MADRS scores was observed for twelve patients with polysommographic and clinical signs of dopamine-dependent depression (DDD). More than 50 patients have now been treated successfully for periods ranging from a few months to almost 2 years." [8]
   
   "The results suggest that the decreased Tyrosine availability to the brain in oral contraceptive users may result in a substrate-limited reduction of brain noradrenaline formation, which, secondarily, may contribute to disturbances of mood, coping mechanisms, and appetite in susceptible subjects." [21]
   
   Studies with measurements of urinary metabolites of E/NE have proven that Tyrosine supplementation can normalize the adrenaline levels, when depleted by intensive training and lack of sleep and improve alertness following sleep deprivation. [7]
   
   Tyrosine supplementation helps support normal protein and catecholamine synthesis in phenylalanine-restricted diets. [13]
   
   
4. "...catecholaminergic neurons respond to the precursor amino acid only when they are physiologically active. Supplementary tyrosine may be useful therapeutically in people exposed chronically to stress." [18] "These findings suggest that, in healthy women, reduced serotonin and/or catecholamine neurotransmission increases vulnerability to lowered mood, especially following exposure to aversive psychological events." [6]
   
   "...numerous studies suggest that NE inhibits the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) by suppressing corticotropic releasing factor (CRF) secretion in the hypothalamus", so adequate levels of NE might prevent excessive rises in Cortisol levels." [12]
   
   
5. "resupplementation of phenylalanine and tyrosine after 8 weeks of depletion gave a rapid increase in serum T4, T3, free T4, and reverse T3. These results suggested that the primary hypothyroidism was caused by an impaired T4 production and that the deficiency of amino acids in protein-calorie malnutrition partly contributed to the impairment of T4 production." [15]
   
   Studies have used effective doses of Tyrosine in the range of 30-150 mg/kg body weight, which translates into a total of between 1500 mg-7.5 g for a 50Kg=110 lb man.
   
   Tyrosine is also part of numerous important enzymes involved in various pathways of hormonal signaling such as insulin.

Interactions With Herbs
Tyrosine works synergistically with Green Tea (see Green Tea flyer) and Rhodiola (see Supporting Neurotransmitter Production Naturally flyer) in maintaining NE levels.

Interactions With Drugs
There is some concern that tyrosine might decrease the effectiveness of L-dopa (Levodopa). Tyrosine and Levodopa compete for absorption in the proximal duodenum by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport system (2719). Advise patients to separate doses of tyrosine and L-dopa by at least 2 hours. Tyrosine supplementation has the potential of increasing the effect of drugs that affect dopamine metabolism such as Wellbutrin and MAO or COMT inhibitors and anorectic drugs such as phentremine, Ionamie, Meridia.

Who Should Not Take Tyrosine?
Tyrosine should not be taken by those with diagnosed schizophrenia, manic conditions, anxiety, insomnia, cancer or skin cancer without consulting their health care practitioner. Tyrosine can interfere with the effectiveness of anti-psychotic drugs (Tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors).

Click here to download Tyrosine PDF file

References:

1. Carfagna N, Trunzo F . Brain catecholamine content and turnover in aging rats. Exp Gerontol. 1985;20(5):265-9.
2. Banderet LE, Lieberman HR. Treatment with tyrosine, a neurotransmitter precursor, reduces environmental stress in humans. Brain Res Bull 1989 Apr;22(4):759-62
3. Wurtman RJ, Fernstrom JD Control of brain monoamine synthesis by diet and plasma amino acids. Am J Clin Nutr 1975 Jun;28(6):638-47
4. Deijen JB, Orlebeke JF. Effect of tyrosine on cognitive function and blood pressure under stress. Brain Res Bull. 1994;33(3):319-23
5. Avraham Y, Hao S . Diet restriction in mice causes a decrease in hippocampal choline uptake and muscarinic receptors that is restored by administration of tyrosine: interaction between cholinergic and adrenergic receptors influencing cognitive function. Nutr Neurosci. 2001;4(2):153-67.
6. Leyton M, Young SN Effects on mood of acute phenylalanine/tyrosine depletion in healthy women. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2000 Jan;22(1):52-63.
7. Neri DF, Wiegmann D The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1995 Apr;66(4):313-918. Mouret J,
8. Lemoine P [L-tyrosine cures, immediate and long term, dopamine-dependent depressions. Clinical and polygraphic studies] C R Acad Sci III. 1988;306(3):93-8.
9. Agharanya JC, Alonso R, Wurtman RJ. Changes in catecholamine excretion after short-term tyrosine ingestion in normally fed human subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1981 Jan;34(1):82-7.
10. Avraham Y, Hao S . Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses to weight loss in mice following diet restriction, activity or separation stress: effects of tyrosine. Nutr Neurosci. 2002 Oct;5(5):327-35.
11. Hao S, Avraham Y . Separation-induced body weight loss, impairment in alternation behavior, and autonomic tone: effects of tyrosine. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2001 Feb;68(2):273-81.
12. Reinstein DK, Lehnert H, Wurtman RJ.Dietary tyrosine suppresses the rise in plasma corticosterone following acute stress in rats. Life Sci. 1985 Dec 9;37(23):2157-63.
13. van Spronsen FJ, van Rijn M, Bekhof J, et al. Phenylketonuria: tyrosine supplementation in phenylalanine-restricted diets. J Inherit Metab Dis. Feb2001;73(2):153-7.
14. van Spronsen FJ, van Rijn M, van Dijk T, et al. Plasma phenylalanine and tyrosine responses to different nutritional conditions (fasting/ postprandial) in phenylketonuria: effect of sample timing. Pediatrics 1993;92:570-3.
15. Tahara Y, Hirota M . Primary hypothyroidism in an adult patient with protein-calorie malnutrition: a study of its mechanism and the effect of amino acid deficiency. Metabolism. 1988 Jan;37(1):9-14.
16. Riley PA. Melanin. Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 1997 Nov;29(11):1235-9.
17. Grevet EH, Tietzmann MR .Behavioural effects of acute phenylalanine and tyrosine depletion in healthy male volunteers. J Psychopharmacol. 2002 Mar;16(1):51-5.
18. Lehnert H, Reinstein DK . Neurochemical and behavioral consequences of acute,
19. Brain Res. 1984 Jun 15;303(2):215-23. 19. Sole MJ, Benedict CR Chronic dietary tyrosine supplements do not affect mild essential hypertension. Hypertension. 1985 Jul-Aug;7(4):593-6.
20. Fernstrom JD, Fernstrom MH. Monoamines and protein intake: are control mechanisms designed to monitor a threshold intake or a set point? Nutr Rev. 2001 Aug;59(8 Pt 2):S60-5; discussion S66-8.
21. Moller SE, Maach-Moller B. Tyrosine metabolism in users of oral contraceptives. Life Sci. 1995;56(9):687-95.
22. Meijssen S, Cabezas MC . Insulin mediated inhibition of hormone sensitive lipase activity in vivo in relation to endogenous catecholamines in healthy subjects. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2001 Sep;86(9):4193-7.
23. Kastner A, Hirsch EC Immunocytochemical quantification of tyrosine hydroxylase at a cellular level in the mesencephalon of control subjects and patients with Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. J Neurochem. 1993 Sep;61(3):1024-34.
24. Lemoine P, Robelin N, Sebert P, Mouret J. L-tyrosine: a long term treatment of Parkinson's disease. C R Acad Sci III 1989;309:43-7.
25. Beitner-Johnson D, Nestler EJ. Morphine and cocaine exert common chronic actions on tyrosine hydroxylase in dopaminergic brain reward regions. J Neurochem. 1991
26. Murray R.K, , Granner D. K., Harper's Biochemistry, 23-rd edition, Ch 27 lipid transport and storage.
27. Meyer JS, Welch KM .Neurotransmitter precursor amino acids in the treatment of multi-infarct dementia and Alzheimer's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1977 Jul;25(7):289-98. 27. Georgiades E, Behan WM .Chronic fatigue syndrome: new evidence for a central fatigue disorder. Clin Sci (Lond). 2003 Aug;105(2):213-8.
28. Owasoyo JO, Neri DF .Tyrosine and its potential use as a countermeasure to performance decrement in military sustained operations. Aviat Space Environ Med 1992 May;63(5):364-9