Discover tyrosine—the nutrient that boosts your mood, metabolism, stress recovery and controls your appetite.

By Natasha Turner, ND

Foods high in the amino acid phenylalanine like soy products, chicken, turkey, fish, almonds, avocados, bananas, cheese, yogurt, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds are healthy for you in more ways than one. The phenylalanine in all of these tasty foods is essential for the healthy production of another amino acid: tyrosine. It seems lately, that tyrosine is all the rage and it has a number of enticing health benefits making it one of the top selling supplements in the wellness industry right now.  And, it’s not just all about weight loss either!

Stress support
Research suggests that tyrosine acts as an adaptogen, helping the body adapt to and cope with the effects of physical or psychological stress by minimizing the symptoms caused by stress. This is primarily because tyrosine is a building block for norepinephine and epinephrine, the body's two main stress-related hormones. Taken in advance, tyrosine allows some people to avoid typical bodily reactions and emotions to stressful situations like surgery, emotional upset and sleep deprivation. Tyrosine has been tested on humans for increasing their endurance to anxiety and stress under fatigue. It was proven in research studies that tyrosine supplementation results in increased performance over that of a control group.

Depression and addictions
As a building block for several important brain chemicals, tyrosine is needed to make epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine, all of which work to regulate mood. Deficiencies in tyrosine have been associated with depression. Tyrosine levels are occasionally low in depressed patients. A number of studies conducted in the 1970s showed encouraging results from the use of tyrosine to ease symptoms of depression, especially when used together with another supplement known as 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)—a precursor to serotonin.

Tyrosine is involved in the production of dopamine, a chemical which boosts our mood and controls cravings and appetite. Dopamine disorders in the frontal lobes can cause a decline in neurocognitive function, particularly those linked to the frontal lobes—such as memory, attention and problem solving abilities.

Dopamine is associated with the neurochemical ‘reward’ in vital activities such as eating and sex, and it this same mechanism that is also responsible for the craving connected with drug addictions and smoking. Supplements of tyrosine may be useful in treating these conditions and aiding recovery.

Thyroid function and metabolic rate
Tyrosine is also used to produce one of the major hormones, thyroxin, which plays an important role in controlling metabolic rate, skin health, mental health and growth rate. It also aids in the production of melanin (pigment responsible for hair and skin color), and in the function of organs in the body responsible for producing and regulating hormones—including the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands. Low levels of tyrosine have been associated with low blood pressure, low body temperature, vitiligo (abnormal white discolorations of the skin) and an under-active thyroid. However, this does not mean that taking tyrosine supplements will avoid these particular circumstances, but it may provide some assistance with these symptoms.

Tyrosine for weight loss and appetite control
Brain chemicals like dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine and serotonin are involved in the regulation of food intake. Dopamine (made from tyrosine) is showing promise in the weight loss industry as it seems to regulate the ingestion of food via certain brain circuitry. Drugs that block dopamine receptors increase appetite and result in significant weight gain, whereas drugs that increase brain dopamine concentration are appetite suppressing. This is promising!

How is tyrosine usually taken?
Tyrosine is best taken in doses spread out through the day. Make sure to take on an empty stomach with a bit of diluted juice or fruit. Typical daily dosage is 1500 – 3000mg. Individuals taking antidepressant medications that increase dopamine like Wellbutrin should not take tyrosine supplements. TrueBOOST may be an option for you if you are considering supplementing with tyrosine.

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