Andrew Huberman on Tryptophan

“When I take tryptophan, or anything that contains 5-HTP, which is serotonin or a precursor to serotonin, I tend to fall very deeply asleep and then wake up a few hours later.”

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“Consuming foods that increase serotonin naturally, such as foods that contain high levels of tryptophan, can enhance the amount of serotonin that's available in the brain and blood and thereby lead to the particular quality of sleep that allows for more robust immune response.”

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“Tryptophan-rich diets or supplementation with tryptophan has been shown to reduce aggressive behavior both in children and in adults.”

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“L-tryptophan is a precursor to serotonin. These amino acid precursors don't have the same degree of potency as prescription drugs, but they enrich the possibility for neuroplasticity.”

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“Carbohydrates can inhibit cortisol through the tryptophan amino acid related pathway that ratchets up to serotonin release.”

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“We have the amino acid Tryptophan, which is upstream of serotonin synthesis.”

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“Be aware serotonin supplements could disrupt the timing of REM sleep and slow wave sleep. In my case, it led to waking up very shortly after going to sleep and not being able to get back to sleep.”

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“Tryptophan or anything that contains 5-HTP could disrupt the timing of REM sleep and slow wave sleep.”

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“I experience that as if I've taken 5-HTP or tryptophan, I fall asleep very deeply, but then I wake up three hours later and I can't fall asleep at all.”

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“The binders used in a particular batch of tryptophan that I think was sold out of Japan... ended up being contaminated and somebody got very ill and died.”

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“I personally have tried taking a supplement which was L-tryptophan or 5-HTP, and I'll be honest the sleep that I had with increased serotonin by way of tryptophan or 5-HTP was dreadful.”

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“L-tryptophan is the amino acid precursor to serotonin. There's really no evidence that any of those things can be beneficial, and there is actually some reason to believe that it might be detrimental.”

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