Guide Note

Tryptophan is one of the human body's essential amino acids. As the body cannot make tryptophan on its own, a person must obtain tryptophan from their diet.

Fast Facts

1. An essential amino acid
2. Available as a dietary supplement
3. Important in protein synthesis
4. Not produced naturally by human body

• Turkey
• Peanuts
• Milk
• Cheese
• Soy
• Tofu
• Eggs

When a correlation emerged between dietary supplements containing L-tryptophan and the eosinophilia myalgia syndrome outbreak in 1989, the Food and Drug Administration in the United States limited the availability of dietary supplements with L-tryptophan.¹

While it is common knowledge that tryptophan has sedative properties, it is an urban myth that turkey causes drowsiness due to its tryptophan concentration. Tryptophan must be ingested on an empty stomach in order to cause sleepiness.²

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Contact your doctor for more information on tryptophan.