Reply #11: I didn't realize Trp was *legal* again [View All]

[Duer 157099]

I will somehow look up the vet supply I had used, because I recall it being fairly inexpensive -- especially compared to 5-HTP. And it was high quality too. I don't know the BBB issues for Trp vs. 5HTP (isn't 5htp just 5-hydroxy-tryptophan? I'd suspect it is even less likely to cross the BBB, since it's got an extra -OH and thus is a larger molecule -- unless there's some sort of transporter... (???)

If you can get this book, it will tell you all you need to know, and then some. It's worth reading if you're interested in this topic. I remember that I was very glad that I understood the nuances of why certain elements were used, and the timing, and which you could or couldn't mix and the reasons. You sound like you'd appreciate that level of knowledge -- really worth reading the book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385233655/sr=1-4/qid=1155362216/ref=sr_1_4/102-4110177-6484116?ie=UTF8&s=books

I know that it's still controversial, the whole GH field, but I found that when I did it properly, it was highly effective.

I had actually gotten interested because I had purchased one of those "GH-releasing formulas" which was ultra expensive, and it didn't seem to do anything and I wanted to know why. Once I learned how it should work, I understood why it's so easy to do it wrong, even with a supposedly no-brainer "formula."

Edit to add this new info I just looked up (from PubMed):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16053244&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_docsum

Protein source tryptophan versus pharmaceutical grade tryptophan as an efficacious treatment for chronic insomnia.

BACKGROUND: Intact protein rich in tryptophan was not seen as an alternative to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan since protein also contains large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) that compete for transport sites across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Deoiled gourd seed (an extremely rich source of tryptophan-22 mg tryptophan/1 g protein) was combined with glucose, a carbohydrate that reduces serum levels of competing LNAAs which was then compared to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan with carbohydrate as well as carbohydrate alone. METHOD: Objective and subjective measures of sleep were employed to measure changes in sleep as part of a double blind placebo controlled study where subjects were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) Protein source tryptophan (deoiled gourd seed) in combination with carbohydrate; (2) pharmaceutical grade tryptophan in combination with carbohydrate; (3) carbohydrate alone. SUBJECTS: Out of 57 subjects 49 of those who began the study completed the three week protocol. RESULTS: Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate and pharmaceutical grade tryptophan, but not carbohydrate alone, resulted in significant improvement on subjective and objective measures of insomnia. Protein source tryptophan with carbohydrate alone proved effective in significantly reducing time awake during the night. CONCLUSION: Protein source tryptophan is comparable to pharmaceutical grade tryptophan for the treatment of insomnia.