Pheylalanine as Used in Nootropics (Scientific Research)

8/18/2019 Pheylalanine as Used in Nootropics (Scientific Research)

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PHEYLALANINE AS USED IN NOOTROPICS

Phenylalanine is an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. It is an essential

amino acid, which means the bodyneeds it for health but cannot create it but must receive it as

part of a diet, usually when consuming protein (in foods like eggs, milk and meat, and also

present in breast milk).

It is also present in a food sweetener known as aspartame. It is found in three forms: L-

phenylalanine which is the natural form found in proteins, D-phenylalanine which is made in the

lab and DL- phenylalanine which is a combination of the two (Fooducate, 2011).

On the other hand, nootropics (also called smart drugs and cognitive enhancers) are drug,supplements, or other substances that improve cognitive function, particularly executive

functions (cognitive control and supervisory attentional system), memory, creativityor

motivation in healthy individuals ( Frati et al . , 2015).Phenylalanine is a good candidate in

nootropics, as it exhibits these characteristics, therefore it is used as a nootropic.

PHENYL L NINE USES IN THE BODY

The body changes phenylalanine into tyrosine, another amino acid that is needed to make

proteins and brain chemicals, including L-dopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine and thyroid

hormones. All these chemicals are vital for proper functioning of the nervous system. As a

nootropic, phenylalanine has many different positive effects including mood enhancement,

anxiety relief, increased focus and concentration as well as improved motivation.

Although the specific mechanisms of action for phenylalanine are still not fully understood, it is

known that this supplement crosses the blood brain barrier and enters into the central nervous

system. This ‘barrier’ is a protective defense of red blood cells and the glia of the brain which

does not allow toxins, bacteria or viruses to enter into the brain and the central nervous system.

However, the same barrier also keeps out many potentially beneficial compounds. The fact that

phenylalanine can cross the blood-brain barrier is integral to its effectiveness as a cognitive

enhancement supplement.

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advisable not to use it while taking anti-psychotic medication and specific anti-depressants-

monoamine oxidase inhibitors (Ramdani et al., 2015).

When taken in large quantities, it can trigger ADD/ADH, emotional and behavioral disorders.

Especially in the one out of ten thousand people who are PKU (who carry the Phenylketonuria

gene which causes people to build up too much phenylalanine in their bodies), it can cause

irreversible brain damage and death. When consumed during pregnancy, it can increase chances

of birth defects. The risk for facial defects is highest at weeks 10-14, nervous system and growth

defects between 3-16 weeks and heart defects at 3-8 weeks.

When used by people who have schizophrenia, phenylalanine can cause or worsen symptoms of

a movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia TD) characterized by involuntary movements of the

tongue, lips, face trunk and limbs that can occur in people taking antipsychotic drugs long term

(Ramdani et al., 2015).

CONCLUSION

The various side effects notwithstanding, this nootropic has many benefits like allievating stress

and anxiety, it acts as a pain reliever, increased attention, inhibition control and drive. This

makes it an ideal supplement or productivity pill. However, its metabolite phenylethylamine is

more common for commercial purposes as a nootropic than phenylalanine.


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REFERENCES

1. Fooducate, (2011). 7 things to know about aspartame and phenylalanine. Retrieved April

6, 2016 from http://www.blog.fooducate .com

2.

Frati, P., Kyriakou, C., Delrio, A., Marinelli, E., Vergallo, G., Zaami, S., Busardo P.

(2015). “Smart drugs and synthetic androgens for cognitive and physical enhancement:

revolving doors of cosmetic neurology”. CurrNeuropharmacol 13(1): 5-11. Doi:

10.2174/1570159X13666141210221750 . PMC 4462043 .PMID 26074739 .

3. Linssen, M., Riedel, W., Sambeth, A. Effects of tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion on

electrophysiologyical correlates of memory in healthy volunteers. J Psychopharmacol

230-8. Doi:10.11777/0269881109348160.

4. Sonneville, L., Hoedt, A., Francois, B., Horst, M., Janssen, M., Rubio-Gozalbo, M.,

Wijburg, F., Hollak, C., Bosch, A. High phenylalanine levels directly affect mood and

sustained attention in adults with phenylketonuria: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-

controlled, crossover trial. J Inherit Metab Dis. 34(1):165-71.doi: 10.1007/s10545-010-

9253-9.

5. Bjork, M., Grant, S., Chen, G., Hommer, D. Dietary tyrosine/phenylalanine depletion

effects on behavioural and brain signatures of human motivational processing.

Neuropsychopharmacology. 39(3):595-604. Doi: 10.1038/

6.

Ramdani, C., Carbonnell, L., Vidal, F., Danger, A., Hasbroucq, T. Dopamine precursors

depletion impairs impulse control in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology

232(2):477-87.doi: 10.1007/s00213-014-3686-z
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Pheylalanine as Used in Nootropics (Scientific Research)