Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that contributes to the correct maintenance of muscles and neurotransmitters, helping to preserve and assimilate proteins and enzymes. It is an essential amino acid that cannot be produced by the body so it must be obtained from the diet or, if it is deficient, through dietary supplements. The body also requires tryptophan to produce melatonin and serotonin. These hormones regulate the sleep-wake cycle, as well as appetite and mood. The liver also uses tryptophan to produce niacin (vitamin B3), which is necessary to metabolise energy.
It is important to include foods such as oily fish, nuts, dairy products, bananas and avocados in the diet to maintain an optimal level of tryptophan in the body. In the form of a dietary supplement, this amino acid will help us to maintain a stable mood in times of stress or seasonal depression, as well as correct mild insomnia. It is important to stress that tryptophan supplementation should not exceed 3 months and, if you follow a pharmacological treatment to improve mood disorders, it is important to consult a healthcare professional beforehand. In any case, following a rich and varied diet is the key to maintaining adequate tryptophan levels in the body.
