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Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression.
Altern Med Rev 2000; 5(1):64-71AM

Abstract

Insufficient activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine is a central element of the model of depression most widely held by neurobiologists today. In the late 1970s and 1980s, numerous studies were performed in which depressed patients were treated with the serotonin precursors L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and the dopamine and norepinephrine precursors tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. This article briefly reviews the published research on the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors in treating depression, highlights the findings of studies, and discusses issues regarding the interpretation of those findings. The nature of the studies makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors for treating depression. While there is evidence that precursor loading may be of therapeutic value, particularly for the serotonin precursors 5-HTP and tryptophan, more studies of suitable design and size might lead to more conclusive results. However, the evidence suggests neurotransmitter precursors can be helpful in patients with mild or moderate depression.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors+Show Affiliations

    Meyers S
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA. spmeyers@lbl.gov

    MeSH

    5-HydroxytryptophanDepressionHumansPhenylalanineTryptophanTyrosine

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Review

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    10696120

    Citation

    Meyers, S. "Use of Neurotransmitter Precursors for Treatment of Depression." Alternative Medicine Review : a Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, vol. 5, no. 1, 2000, pp. 64-71.
    Meyers S. Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression. Altern Med Rev. 2000;5(1):64-71.
    Meyers, S. (2000). Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression. Alternative Medicine Review : a Journal of Clinical Therapeutic, 5(1), pp. 64-71.
    Meyers S. Use of Neurotransmitter Precursors for Treatment of Depression. Altern Med Rev. 2000;5(1):64-71. PubMed PMID: 10696120.
    * Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
    TY - JOUR T1 - Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression. A1 - Meyers,S, PY - 2000/3/1/pubmed PY - 2000/4/1/medline PY - 2000/3/1/entrez SP - 64 EP - 71 JF - Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic JO - Altern Med Rev VL - 5 IS - 1 N2 - Insufficient activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine is a central element of the model of depression most widely held by neurobiologists today. In the late 1970s and 1980s, numerous studies were performed in which depressed patients were treated with the serotonin precursors L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), and the dopamine and norepinephrine precursors tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. This article briefly reviews the published research on the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors in treating depression, highlights the findings of studies, and discusses issues regarding the interpretation of those findings. The nature of the studies makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors for treating depression. While there is evidence that precursor loading may be of therapeutic value, particularly for the serotonin precursors 5-HTP and tryptophan, more studies of suitable design and size might lead to more conclusive results. However, the evidence suggests neurotransmitter precursors can be helpful in patients with mild or moderate depression. SN - 1089-5159 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/10696120/Use_of_neurotransmitter_precursors_for_treatment_of_depression_ L2 - http://archive.foundationalmedicinereview.com/publications/5/1/64.pdf DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -