Trudy Scott Anxiety Nutrition Solutions & Every Woman Over 29

DLPA vs DPA for pain, food cravings, depression, grief, lack of joy; and impacts of DLPA on sleep, and feeling more stressed/anxious

April 5, 2024 By Trudy Scott Leave a Comment

A very common question I get is from folks asking about the difference between the amino acids DPA (d-phenylalanine) and DLPA (dl-phenylalanine) for endorphin support and endorphin/dopamine support. I dedicate an entire blog to this question explaining the differences and which one I use for weepiness, heart-ache, pain and energy. I also discuss where tyrosine (for dopamine support) fits in. If you missed that or need a recap you can read about this on the blog.

The blog post generated some great questions that I’m sharing today, with my feedback, in case you have similar questions. I discuss a question about DLPA vs DPA for pain and impacts on sleep; a question about DLPA (used by mistake) raising already high dopamine levels and why DPA isn’t working any more for food cravings; a question about using DPA with GABA; and a question about DPA for depression and lack of joy caused by grief.

Here is the question from Gloria who shared this feedback about her use of DLPA (as part of a pain relief product) but says she can’t use it past noon. She also wants to know more about DPA for pain relief:

My experience with DLPA is as part of a supplement called Curamin for pain relief from arthritis that also has curcumin and boswellia. It works quite well in the AM but I can’t tolerate it past noon or it negatively affects my sleep.

Interesting to learn it is similar to tyrosine which I have had sleep problems with in the past.

Does DPA work as well for pain? Is it best to take amino acids on an empty stomach for best absorption? Does that mean an hour before a meal or two hours after? Thank you for your blogs and book!

It’s great that this combination product offers pain relief and it’s good that she has made the connection to poor sleep when it’s used after noon. This is a popular product that I would like to see include the possible impacts on sleep and the other precautions for DLPA . It is a proprietary formulation so you don’t actually know how much DLPA you’re getting. I really don’t like not knowing.

One other concern is that curcumin is high-oxalate and for some this can make pain worse. Otherwise, curcumin and boswellia are excellent for pain relief and reducing inflammation.

DPA is more effective for pain than DLPA because it offers a bigger endorphin boost. If oxalates are not an issue, one option could be to continue with the Curamin before noon and if needed, add standalone DPA in the afternoon and evening, for added pain relief.

Amino acids are more effective on an empty stomach and even more effective when opened on to the tongue. I share more about opening DPA onto the tongue in this blog.

DLPA (used by mistake) raised already high dopamine levels and why isn’t DPA working any more for food cravings?

Rhonda shared how she found out the difference between DPA and DLPA the hard way and wants to go back to DPA:

I certainly found out the difference the hard way. I had used Lidtke Endorphigen for a few years and I think it helped a bit with food cravings. As I am in Australia, I depend on my sister’s visits from US for my supply. When I ran out last year, I bought DLPA by mistake.

After 1 week I was unable to cope with life, totally stressed out about everything, wanting to cry or scream or run away. Zero tolerance towards anyone. After 10 days I realized my mistake and I went back to normal in 24 hrs.

I believe DLPA resulted in very high dopamine as I already have a very slow COMT gene activity for breaking down dopamine.

I now take Endorphigen again but not seeing much effect on sugar cravings this time.

That is quite the reaction she experienced but I’m glad she figured it out so quickly. It’s not uncommon for some folks to react to DLPA like this, feeling more stressed and even anxious. High dopamine, and norepinephrine and epinephrine (so a huge adrenalin rush), related to slow COMT activity could well be the cause.

When Endorphigen (or any of the amino acids) work well initially we continue with trials of higher doses to find the ideal dose. It may also be that a reset is needed after the shift in dopamine.

Rhonda did say she thinks Endorphigen “helped a bit with food cravings.” When it only helps a bit it may be that the dose isn’t high enough or we may need to consider other neurotransmitter imbalances. They can all cause cravings for slightly different reasons: GABA/stress, serotonin/worry or low mood, glutamine/low blood sugar. More on that and the respective amino acids here.

Can GABA be used with DPA?

Ray asks: “Can I use GABA 25mg and also take DPA? Would either/or offset the other?”

My feedback: If someone has low GABA symptoms and GABA helps and they also have low endorphin symptoms and DPA helps then they are absolutely fine to use together and even at the same time. However, I have my clients trial one at a time in order to find the ideal dose and so you know how each one is working

What can I use for my depression and lack of joy, caused by grief?

Vee says she needs something “to get through my grief depression”:

Completely flat, no joy. I always had a calm flat disposition, but now it’s a complete zero. I need my brain to produce some oxytocin so I can like myself, my family and remember all I should be grateful for. I sleep good. I don’t take any meds, and I don’t abuse alcohol. Does tyrosine affect the brain in the way of producing oxytocin?

My feedback: I use DPA/Lidtke Endorphigen for this very purpose. It’s wonderful for grief, depression, lack of joy and the weepiness we see with low endorphins. It also helps with emotional eating that can show up as we try to self-medicate with treats in order to try and feel better.

When the depression also includes being flat, blah and curl-up in bed we use DLPA instead of DPA, or a combination of DPLA/DPA or tyrosine/DPA. Trials of each, one by one, helps you figure out what works best for your unique needs.

And for some folks GABA is helpful as shared by this woman who found GABA allowed her to sit with a feeling of peace and calm most of the time after her mum passed away.

Research does shows a link between dopamine and oxytocin, with oxytocin “emerging as one particular neural substrate that may be influenced by the altered dopamine levels.” Also, for oxytocin support I’d focus on hugs, massage, touch, laughter, making love, yoga, and petting a dog or cat.

DPA and DLPA product options

Products I recommend include Lidtke EndorphiGen (which is DPA) and Pure Encapsulations DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA). You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, these products are available via iherb: Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine (or DPA) and Life Extension D, L-Phenylalanine (or DLPA) (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using DPA and DLPA, and other amino acids as supplements

As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low endorphins or low dopamine or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

If you suspect low levels of any of the neurotransmitters and do not yet have my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution – How the Foods You Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood, and End Cravings, I highly recommend getting it and reading it before jumping in and using amino acids on your own so you are knowledgeable. And be sure to share it with the practitioner/health team you or your loved one is working with.

There is an entire chapter on the amino acids and they are discussed throughout the book in the sections on gut health, gluten, blood sugar control (this is covered in an entire chapter too), sugar cravings, anxiety and mood issues.

The book doesn’t include product names (per the publisher’s request) so this blog, The Antianxiety Food Solution Amino Acid and Pyroluria Supplements, lists the amino acids that I use with my individual clients and those in my group programs (over and above the few I mentioned above).

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), a good place to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program (if you have low GABA symptoms too). This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support.

If you are a practitioner, join us in The Balancing Neurotransmitters: the Fundamentals program. This is also a paid online/virtual program with an opportunity to interact with me and other practitioners who are also using the amino acids.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do always appreciate questions and feedback like this so keep your questions coming. I do hope my sharing these ones have been helpful to you.

How has DPA or DLPA helped your pain, depression, lack of joy, weepiness, and grief? And has DLPA affected your sleep or made you feel more anxious or stressed?

If yes, which products have helped and do you find swallowed or capsule opened is more effective?

If you’re a practitioner do you use DPA and/or DLPA with clients/patients?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

GABA Supplementation Increased Heart-Rate Variability, Emotional Response, Sleep Efficiency and Reduced Depression in Sedentary Overweight Women

March 29, 2024 By Trudy Scott 17 Comments

In a new GABA study published earlier this year, the authors report that supplementation with the calming amino acid, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), helped to reduce stress and depression, and improved emotional response and sleep in overweight women. The intervention group was given 200 mg GABA per day for 90 days. Here is the study abstract:

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) serves as a pivotal neurotransmitter implicated in the pathogenesis of stress, anxiety, sleep-related disorders, and heart rate (HR) reactions.

Heart-rate variability (HRV), modulated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS), offers insights into cardiac autonomic control and cardiovascular well-being.

The present study aimed to explore the impact of GABA supplementation on emotional metrics, sleep quality, and HRV in sedentary women with overweight or obesity partaking in physical exercise.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was undertaken involving 30 sedentary women with overweight or obesity. Volunteers were assigned randomly to two groups: the intervention group receiving GABA (200 mg) once daily for a total of 90 supplementation doses, and the placebo group. Both groups engaged in physical exercise, while the supplementation regimen spanned 90 days.

Assessments were conducted at three intervals: baseline (T0), midway through the study (T45), and study culmination (T90).

Following 90 days of GABA supplementation, the intervention group demonstrated enhancements in habitual sleep efficiency, as indicated by reductions in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores. Moreover, an improved emotional response was observed, characterized by diminished negative affect. GABA supplementation yielded ameliorations in depression scores as per the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Notably, an augmented HRV was noted, attributed to heightened parasympathetic autonomic nervous system predominance.

GABA supplementation elicited noteworthy enhancements in heart rate variability, emotional response, depression mitigation, and sleep efficiency following a 90-day supplementation.

I received a full copy of the paper, GABA Supplementation, Increased Heart-Rate Variability, Emotional Response, Sleep Efficiency and Reduced Depression in Sedentary Overweight Women Undergoing Physical Exercise: Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial. I thanked them for doing this research and shared my clinical insights and the fact that I do use GABA a little differently. More on that below.

The type of GABA, how it was used, the timing and fillers

The study participants were given GABA and not pharmaGABA, it was swallowed and it was used before bed.

Both the GABA and placebo contained starch and talc. The starch may be an issue with someone with SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) or an IgG reaction to whatever the starch is made from, such as corn (used in this study) or rice or wheat.

Talc is simply not necessary in any supplements. With so many of my clients being very sensitive to excipients, ideally we want to be using fewer fillers and using a clean supplement just like when it comes to eating real whole good quality food.

My feedback on the 200 mg GABA dose used in the study

Given that many studies use much higher doses it’s wonderful that they used just 200 mg GABA.

They used the same dose for everyone for 90 days at night only.

This illustrates how effective GABA can be when used in the same manner for all study participants. It is, however, very possible that the fact they were exercising and just being part of a study also contributed to many of their improvements:

While both study groups engaged in physical exercise, it is plausible to surmise that the act of participating in physical activities may have contributed to the improved stress, anxiety, and depression profiles in the placebo group. Furthermore, study participation alone can instill a positive effect, potentially fostering volunteers’ motivation to embrace healthier lifestyle habits and enhance overall well-being.

My approach for using GABA is personalized

The study provides a great foundation for future research and clinical use.

My approach is personalized dosing based on symptoms and increased to find the optimal dose. I typically have clients start on 125 mg GABA used sublingually, which is a nice low starting dose for most folks. I have clients use GABA 1-5 times a day, including the night, based on their unique needs and only if they have low GABA type of physical/tension anxiety). I have clients rate 1 or 2 symptoms on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being worst, do an initial one-off trial of GABA and rate the symptoms again right afterwards (in the next 2 to 30 minutes). Based on this we decide if we’ll continue with GABA and how much to use.

I speculate there would likely be even better outcomes with a GABA only powder used on the tongue and held in the mouth for up to 2 minutes. And of course, dosing according to each person’s needs is ideal but impractical in a study.

Feedback illustrates how GABA use (and the benefits) can differ per person

When I shared the research on Facebook I received this feedback from Doula Michelle Jackson:

25 mg GABA twice a day has done wonders for me. I used to take 750 mg of GABA Calm Mind at night and it made me very weepy. Lower dosing works best for me. It helps with sleep, anxiety and depression.

(The 750 mg GABA Calm Mind is a hard tablet and is not the same as the 125mg GABA Calm sublingual product I recommend. The product that works for her is Kal GABA 25mg.)

Carrie shared this: “I always put GABA under the tongue myself.”

Tara said: “GABA is the one thing I can rely on to get a good night’s rest. I open a 420 mg cap about 45 minutes before bed.”

Patrice said: “I take GABA about 30 minutes before bedtime. I open a capsule and use about 100-200 mg in water. It helps to calm my mind and stop ruminating. I think I sleep better.”

Elmas shared this about her son’s results: “GABA can be a game changer. We just started last week and can see it improves my boy’s tics and stimming. Thanks to Trudy’s recommendation on Mind Body and vagus nerve connection summit, we started only 100mg (Superior Sources sublingual) in water. And increased to approx 1/8 tsp about 380mg (Sources Naturals GABA powder) yesterday.”

Both Sue and her husband benefit from GABA:“Trudy posted once about GABA helping with pain in the colon so I tried it and was so amazed at how quickly it worked. I use 200 mg and take the capsule whole, not opening the caps and it works in 15 minutes for me. I have found it also helps me with times that I get anxiety, crabbiness, restless legs and the blues. This is such a blessing for me.

Even my husband will take 200 mg when he’s feeling grouchy with the customers and within 15 to 20 minutes, he’s a different person. It’s a wonder supplement. I tell EVERYBODY about it.”

As you can see from the above, it really is different strokes for different folks and a personalized approach to using GABA.

A few GABA product options – a sublingual and a powder

Products I recommend include Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, these same products are available via iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using GABA and other amino acids as supplements

As I mentioned above, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

Wrapping up and your feedback

I do appreciate the researchers and do hope my clinical insights and community feedback help with further research. The team has plans to do similar research with men and older individuals, and I look forward to these outcomes. I’ll be sure to share these at a later date.

I’ll end here with this statement from the conclusion:

Consequently, GABA supplementation emerges as a promising avenue for augmenting both cardiovascular and emotional well-being among individuals actively participating in physical exercise.

How has GABA helped your emotions, depression, stress and sleep? And what doses work best for you?

Have you tweaked your dosing to find the ideal doses for your needs?

If yes, which products have helped and do you find sublingual or swallowed is more effective?

If you’re a practitioner do you use GABA with clients/patients and how do you use it?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Ox bile as a supplement: to help counter the effects of dietary oxalates very likely caused by bile issues and poor fat digestion

March 15, 2024 By Trudy Scott 69 Comments

I’m using ox bile (as a supplement) to help counter the effects of dietary oxalates very likely caused by my bile issues and poor fat digestion.

I started with 125 mg ox bile with lunch and dinner and now I’m up to 250 mg at lunch and 375 mg at dinner. Many ox bile products are 500 mg but I decided to start low and go slow and also use an ox bile only product rather than ox bile combined with digestive enzymes.

I don’t know exactly what my liver or gallbladder issues are but suspect low bile production and/or sluggish bile flow.

I have an issue with dietary oxalates and using ox bile confirms my suspicions because I can feel it helping further with symptom reduction (foot and eye pain, and restless legs at night). Because of improved fat digestion, I’m encouraged it’s going to help with longer term bone health (I was recently diagnosed with osteoporosis), immunity, hormone balance and heart health too. I expect better absorption of healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids, evening primrose oil and fat-soluble vitamins A, E, D and K (and D and K are so important for bone health).

Of course, all this means less oxalate absorption and a reduced impact of the sharp damaging crystals found in medium/high oxalate foods. Oxalates also bind to minerals like zinc, magnesium, and calcium so those mineral deficiencies should shift too.

Read on for a background on oxalate crystal disease, the research on conjugated bile acid replacement therapy (or ox bile supplementation) and oxalate/fat digestion mechanisms, and more about signs of bile issues and solutions. I also share what else I do to mitigate oxalate issues and improve fat digestion, and the ox bile product I am using.

Ox bile increases fat absorption and reduces oxalate absorption

This paper, Conjugated bile acid replacement therapy reduces urinary oxalate excretion in short bowel syndrome, explains that “Soluble oxalate is hyper absorbed by the colon leading to hyperoxaluria and an increased risk for renal calcium oxalate stones and deposits” (and other pain issues – more on that below).

Using ox bile as a supplement (or replacement) with meals “increases fat absorption and thereby decreases calcium fatty acid soap formation and oxalate hyperabsorption.” What does this mean? When fat absorption is improved with ox bile supplements there is more calcium left to bind to excess oxalates in the gut and get rid of them in the stool i.e. less oxalates are absorbed.

I encourage you to read the above paper for a better understanding of the mechanisms.

I do appreciate this team of researchers who have highlighted this approach to help with oxalate issues. Keep in mind I’m experimenting and extrapolating from this single case study of someone with short bowel syndrome and based on what I already know about bile/fat digestion, my own oxalate issues and symptoms of poor bile production/flow (see below).

I don’t have short bowel syndrome but there are a few related studies like this one from the same department, so I feel comfortable experimenting and tracking.

Other pain issues and my pain symptoms caused by dietary oxalates

Keep in mind that the increased absorption of oxalates also causes issues like joint and soft tissue pain, anxiety, restless legs, insomnia, bladder issues, vulvodynia, eye-poking (in autism), thyroid problems, osteoporosis, damage to the heart etc. even when there are no kidney stones. This is not recognized in kidney stone research but is seen extensively in clinical practice.

In 2012 I made the connection between oxalate intake and my excruciating foot pain – a combination of hot-burning-coals-pain and shards-of-glass-pain. The pain has always been worse at night and at its worst I was unable to sleep with severe restless legs. A few years later, I noticed my left eye being affected too, with scratchy discomfort and mild pain. There is also a goopy kind of discharge from the inner part of my eye and burning/redness crystal-like teariness on the outer parts of my eyes.

You can read more about my oxalate story and oxalate crystal disease on this blog – Oxalate crystal disease, dietary oxalates and pain: the research & questions.

It’s more than only ox bile replacement to help with oxalate issues

I say that ox bile helps further because this is a journey I’m on and there are many nutritional approaches that have been helping me over the years. My symptoms have reduced as I do eat mostly low oxalate with some medium oxalate vegetables from time to time, and occasional chocolate or carob (which are high oxalate).

I continue to finesse my use of calcium citrate at bedtime when my symptoms do flare. I am fortunate that I am able to eat cheese so this is another source of calcium for me.

I have pyroluria so I have long used vitamin B6 which is recognized to be helpful for some with oxalate issues. I suspect this may have prevented dumping when I first switched to low oxalate eating.

Signs of low quality bile from Anne Louse Gittleman

These are from her book, The New Fat Flush Plan:

Queasiness after a fatty meal (impaired bile flow)
Light-colored or floating stools (lack of bile output)
Nausea/motion sickness (not enough bile)
Dry skin and hair (lack of essential fatty acids)
Constipation (inadequate bile for lubrication)
Constant feeling of fullness
Inability to lose weight
Pain under the right rib cage (reflective pain from the gallbladder)
Hemorrhoids (congested liver)
Varicose veins (pressure from constipation due to thickened bile)
Pain between the shoulder blades (reflective pain from the gallbladder)
Bloating or gas
Headache over the eyes (gallbladder meridian passes over this region)
Bitter taste in the mouth after meals (sign of bile regurgitation)
History of prescription or recreational drug use (need for more liver and gallbladder support)
Sensitivities to chemicals
Easily intoxicated (need for more liver and gallbladder support)
Fibromyalgia (sign of liver and gallbladder overload)
Hypothyroidism (sign of deficient bile to stimulate active thyroid hormone in fat cells)

I’m adding these signs/related issues/conditions:

Fatigue
Itchy skin
SIBO/small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Osteoporosis
History of gallbladder attacks or gallstones
Oxalate issues

In my Anxiety Summit interview with Anne Louise Gittleman she explains what bile is and why it’s so important (read here if you’re new to this).

What I’ve already done to improve my bile production/quality

Here is a quick summary of the advice Anne Louise Gittleman offers, with a note of what I’ve done. I share this to illustrate that I didn’t jump straight to ox bile supplementation/replacement:

Elimination of food allergies (I’ve done this)
Addressing low levels of hydrochloric acid or stomach acid (this is not an issue for me)
Controlling stress (this is ongoing)
Adding bitter greens to the diet (I do this as much as I can, avoiding medium/high oxalate bitter greens)
Hot lemon water in the morning (a favorite of the original Fat Flush Plan and something I’ve done for years)
Adding non-GMO lecithin from soy and sunflowers to your morning smoothie (I don’t do this)
Using a bile building formula that contains choline, taurine, beet root, inositol and methionine, and pancreatic lipase (I use taurine but can’t use beet root because it’s high oxalate; I did a 2 month trial of a lipase only supplement with no changes; I will likely experiment with choline, methionine and inositol in the near future)
Using castor oil packs (I plan to do this in the near future)

These are some of the other approaches that can also help:

Digestive bitters (it does help me and I continue to use it but it’s not enough)
Toxin removal (I’ve experienced the harmful effects of acute environmental toxin exposure and my daily use of taurine helped. I blogged about this here.)
Ongoing detox with infrared sauna (I use a Therasage portable sauna)
Ox bile supplementation/replacement (I chose to use ox bile to be sure it was a bile issue I was dealing with and I did many other interventions first.)

My observations when using ox bile supplementation

I have not had any severe pain flares and have not needed to use extra calcium citrate in the night. The other profound change was a dramatic increase in energy. A few months ago I thought my Lyme was flaring again as I was so exhausted in the afternoons. This exhaustion has dissipated.

In terms of digestive symptoms, I notice less queasiness after a fatty meal like roast chicken with the skin on or a fatty lamb slow cooker stew. The constant feeling of fullness, gas and bloating has improved too. I suspect ox bile is helping with SIBO because it’s antimicrobial. But I can’t be sure since I started berberine 6 months ago and noticed it reduced methane gas production.

I have yet to test out motion sickness on a boat trip but I haven’t been using wristbands in the car and have been fine. I had been having some unusual/new skin itchiness a few months ago and this has now resolved. I do have sensitivities to chemicals but I haven’t noticed any change yet.

I used my stool color as a gauge to whether the ox bile was working – as I increased the dose I noticed it got darker and I have no more floaters. My bowel movements are much easier (more lubrication) and I feel the urge to go more than before.

It will be interesting to see if longer term this helps with improving my bone density. It makes no sense that I have osteoporosis given I’ve been physically active all my life. I highly suspect my bile issues have been a factor since childhood and then got worse during perimenopause Research shows “Gallbladder emptying time is longer during the perimenopausal period.” Unfortunately kidney stones and oxalate issues ramp up in menopause so it’s the perfect storm. I will be discussing all this with my endocrinologist/bone density doctor and ideally do some testing to figure out what the bile issues are (the pancreatic elastase test was fine).

I do track carefully and only make one change at a time so I typically know what improvements I can attribute to what changes.

Ox bile product options

Allergy Research has an Ox Bile 125 mg product and a 500 mg product. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, Nutricology has an Ox Bile 125 mg product and a 500 mg product. This is the brand I happen to be using. It can be purchased on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

In conclusion

I’d like to give a shout out to my colleagues… I first learned about oxalates from my dear friend Julie Matthews. Hearing her present at a conference helped me make the connection to my feet pain issues. She introduced me to Susan Owens, oxalate guru and researcher, and the TLO/Trying Low Oxalate group, and now I communicate regularly with them, the TLO moderators and members. And I met Sally K. Norton a few years ago. She is the author of this excellent book, Toxic Superfoods: How Oxalate Overload Is Making You Sick (my Amazon link).

Unfortunately no-one discusses the use of ox bile replacement/supplementation for those of us with oxalate issues and bile issues, and I suspect it’s an under-appreciated tool for those of us who continue to struggle. Hopefully this research and my results starts a discussion on the topic and further interest.

Sally K. Norton does mention a connection in her book: “The immune system has a method for shielding surrounding tissues from oxalate crystals; entrapping them with extruded DNA called a neutrophil extracellular trap (NET). These NETs forming around oxalates may contribute to gallstones and gallbladder “sludge”. If this is the case in my situation, then my lifelong issues with bile were likely made worse by my intake of medium- and high-oxalate foods.

I do hope that me sharing my personal experiments and healing journey helps you or someone you know. Honestly, I could write a book on oxalates and what I’ve learned over the last few years. There is so much to all this and even though it’s a “pain” to be affected like this it is fascinating. I do feel thankful to have dietary and nutritional “solutions.”

The next step for me is looking into and addressing my endogenous oxalate production i.e. oxalates that are produced internally vs oxalates that are ingested. Stay tuned for an update on this.

Do you have oxalate issues together with gallbladder/bile issues/fat digestion issues and how has ox bile supplementation helped you?

Has ox bile helped you with low bile production or sluggish bile – even if you don’t have oxalate issues?

If you’re a practitioner have you used ox bile with your clients or patients?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Collagen causes anxiety and sleep problems for some people. I would never have connected the dots but apparently I am one of those people.

March 1, 2024 By Trudy Scott 13 Comments

Thank you for solving my sleeping problem! I would never have connected the dots regarding collagen causing anxiety and sleep problems for some people, but apparently I am one of those people.

Although I would fall asleep instantly at bedtime, I would wake up 3 or 4 hours later and while my body was tired, my mind was wide awake and I was unable to go back to sleep for at least 2 or 3 hours. I would think about all the things I needed to do and the challenges I was having. These things would not bother me as much in the day. No matter what I tried – like praying and listening to calming music, I could not shut off my anxious thoughts.

Then it occurred to me that when I go out of town to visit my family, I sleep better. After hearing Trudy’s collagen presentation on the Osteoporosis Summit, I connected the dots! For the last 6 months, I have been putting about 10 grams of Vital Protein collagen in my coffee each morning. I don’t take the collagen with me when I travel. So I stopped using it and lo and behold, I am sleeping the best sleep I have slept in a long time! I even look forward to going to sleep.

So I thank you Trudy from the bottom of my heart for enlightening me. And Margie, I thank you for the wonderful Summit you put together with so much great information. I would still be sleep deprived if it wasn’t for you both!

I was so pleased to receive this lovely thank you email from Merrilyn (sent to me and summit host Margie Bissinger) and said how happy I am for her. I asked if I could share her feedback as a new blog so we can enlighten others who may have similar issues and because it’s an opportunity to share some of sleep/collagen research that supports a possible mechanism. She kindly said yes and answered my questions:

How long had you been using collagen and how long after starting it did the sleep issues start?
And how quickly after stopping the collagen did your sleep improve?
Did you consider using tryptophan or 5-HTP so you could continue to use the collagen? And are you prone to low serotonin?

Read on for some background on the serotonin-lowering effects for some folks who consume collagen, Merrilyn’s responses to my questions, my insights, some of the research, and the tryptophan and 5-HTP products I recommend.

The original collagen/gelatin serotonin-lowering blog/research from 2017

I first addressed this potential cause for anxiety, mood and sleep issues in a blog in 2017 – Collagen and gelatin lower serotonin: does this increase your anxiety and depression?

Margie invited me to share this information and some of the research with those who are using it or planning to use it for osteoporosis. I’m so glad I accepted because clearly there are still folks who are not aware of the potential serotonin-lowering effects of collagen. And I’m sharing Merrilyn’s results via this new blog in case it’s also new to you.

Briefly, collagen and gelatin are used in tryptophan-depletion studies to lower serotonin levels. It does this because neither collagen or gelatin contain tryptophan. Some people seem to be adversely impacted by acute tryptophan depletion/ATD caused by collagen or gelatin consumption while others are not.

If this is all new to you, I encourage you to read the original blog and search for “collagen” to find other information on this topic on my site.

How long had you been using collagen and how long after starting it did the sleep issues start?

I asked how long she’d been using collagen and how long after starting it did she notice problems with her sleep. This wasn’t clear to her and many folks like Marrilyn unfortunately don’t connect the dots right away.

I started Vital Proteins collagen on July 1, 2023. I did mark that down because as I add supplements to my diet, I try to make notes and only do one at a time in case they cause a problem. I did note that I was not consistent with taking it daily and I was only taking 5 to 10 grams daily ( in my cup of coffee!).

I have always had a bit of a problem with waking up at night, but normally go right back to sleep. I can’t remember exactly when the sleeping problems worsened and I never connected them to collagen.

Seems like over time, the sleeping and waking up with ruminating thoughts was getting worse. I had started trying Tylenol PM or Advil PM, only taking 1/2 of one with one plain Tylenol or Advil to help me sleep and relieve any muscle tension from exercise. That did not always help. Taking a whole PM was better, but I felt groggy the next day. I don’t need any now that I have stopped the collagen.

How quickly after stopping the collagen did your sleep improve?

When the cause of waking in the night is due to low serotonin, it’s common to notice improvements very quickly after stopping collagen. This was the case with Merrilyn:

I would say my sleep improved immediately after stopping it. I realized that on the days I was out of town and didn’t take the collagen, I slept better. … but I attributed it to the fact that it is cooler there and my 6 year old grandson wears me out by the evening. I do not take the collagen with me and I had not connected this to the sleep pattern.

I returned home after one trip and started the collagen that next morning and the sleepless nights started again. I can’t remember when I listened to your talk, but I am guessing around January 18th, because I noted that I stopped after that day and according to my Fitbit and my memory, I slept great the night of January 19th and other than one night, I have slept well since.

I do want to commend Merrilyn for keeping a log of new supplements and sleep patterns. It’s something I recommend for all my clients.

Did you consider using tryptophan or 5-HTP so you could continue to use the collagen and are you prone to low serotonin?

I also asked if she considered using tryptophan or 5-HTP (some folks do better on one vs the other) so she could continue to use the collagen – she had not considered this. And I wanted to know if she has been prone to low serotonin or suspects low serotonin currently.

I do believe I am prone to low serotonin based on the little I have read in your book. I have thought about using tryptophan with the collagen and might later. For now, I just want to enjoy sleeping and focus on improving my diet.

I also have evenings when I crave sugar. I can do without it during the day, but evenings are worse. Something else to work on.

She’s referring to the low serotonin symptoms questionnaire in the amino acid chapter of my book, The Antianxiety Food Solution. It’s also on the blog here.

A big clue is the insomnia and anxiety caused by consumption of collagen, and also the evening cravings. There are cravings with all the neurotransmitter imbalances, with afternoon/evening cravings common with low serotonin.

It is possible Merrilyn’s anxiety and insomnia effects are for reasons other than low serotonin: glutamate, oxalate, arginine or a histamine reaction are all possible with collagen intake). Doing a trial of tryptophan or 5-HTP while consuming collagen would confirm a serotonin connection.

Osteoporosis, allergies, serotonin and coffee

Merrilyn also shared that she is in her early 70s and besides osteoporosis and allergies, is generally healthy and takes no prescription drugs. Interestingly, research finds there may be a role for 5-HTP (and presumably tryptophan) for allergies and asthma, so this may be another clue for her.

Of course, reducing her cravings – tryptophan and/or 5-HTP make it easy – will also improve her nutrient status of zinc, magnesium, iron, vitamin B6 and other B vitamins etc. all of which are key when it comes to osteoporosis.

Quitting coffee altogether will likely prevent any waking in the night – yes, even just one cup a day can make a difference – and also help improve the status of many of these nutrients. This is often the least favorite change my clients make but Merrilyn will read about all this in the caffeine chapter in my book and may find tyrosine helps her do so.

Research: Daytime tryptophan depletion altered night-time sleep

A paper published in 2002, Mid-morning tryptophan depletion delays REM sleep onset in healthy subjects, reports the following:

Rapid daytime tryptophan depletion in healthy volunteers significantly decreased plasma tryptophan levels during the day and the evening, followed by alterations in the characteristics of night-time sleep, including increased sleep fragmentation, REM sleep latency, and REM density during first sleep episode.

In this randomized double-blind cross-over study, participants received “a tryptophan-free mixture of amino acids at 10:30 am…. resulting in a 77% decrease and 41% decrease of serum tryptophan at 3:30 pm. and 9:30 pm.” Keep in mind that collagen is a blend of certain amino acids and is tryptophan-free.

The authors discuss the fact that serotonin is involved in sleep regulation but interestingly the mood of study participants was not affected.

Even more interesting is another study that found collagen used before bedtime improved sleep and cognitive function in physically active males. It’s possible it’s doing this because it is lowering serotonin that is too high.

Tryptophan and 5-HTP product options

Products I recommend include Lidtke 500 mg Tryptophan, and Pure Encapsulations 50 mg 5-HTP. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, Doctor’s Best L-Tryptophan 500mg and Source Naturals 50 mg 5-HTP are products I recommend on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan or 5-HTP and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

Have you made the connection between your collagen consumption and anxiety/insomnia (or other low serotonin symptoms)?

Did you end up simply stopping collagen or have you successfully used it with tryptophan or 5-HTP?

If you’re a practitioner do you see this with your clients/patients who are prone to low serotonin?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Using tryptophan and GABA amino acid supplements together for anxiety, sleep, ruminations and TMJ: questions and answers

February 23, 2024 By Trudy Scott 18 Comments

I am taking 250 mg tryptophan, 100-200 mg GABA. Tryptophan is helping with rumination. GABA is helping with feeling less tension in the body. I am also taking 500mg DPA. DLPA used to help me but I thought it was too stimulating so I’m trying DPA now. I couldn’t feel much when taking it on its own.

But the combination of tryptophan, DPA & GABA is generally helping me to feel less wound up. I still struggle with rumination and I have a really difficult time making decisions. I get really overwhelmed when I have a lot of decisions to make – it sends me in a tailspin and leads to more rumination. I’m not sure which amino acid would be good for that?

I generally have trouble relaxing and feeling calm and I feel the tension in my body. I am not sure if I should try increasing the dosage of one of the above?

I am wondering, is it important to take l-tyrosine to balance the tryptophan since tryptophan can lower dopamine over time? Or is the DPA enough since it’s a precursor to tyrosine?

I get many questions like this about using both tryptophan and GABA amino acid supplements together for easing anxiety and today I’m sharing some of these questions and my answers. This will also give you the opportunity to ask questions you may have related to using both these amino acids together. You’ll also read many success stories like the above and how to tweak the amino acids for optimal results.

Read on for my response to the above question from TT and other questions about using GABA and tryptophan together – how to measure GABA and serotonin levels for using with teens, adding tryptophan for sleep separately from GABA, how to test both for jaw clenching, and the precaution about serotonin syndrome.

My response and feedback for TT – adjustments for even better results

My response and feedback for TT … It’s wonderful that this combination is helping so much. It’s a great start but there are adjustments I’d consider to get even better results. The tryptophan dose is low, with a typical starting dose of 500mg so I’d consider increasing this a few times over a few weeks to see if the ruminations decrease even further. This may also help with the overwhelm and decision making.

Increasing the GABA over a few weeks (after the trial of increased tryptophan) may well improve her ongoing tension and inability to relax. I’d want to make sure she is using GABA sublingually for the best effects.

She asks about the need to take tyrosine to balance the tryptophan but I don’t have clients do this as a rule of thumb and only have clients take tyrosine if they have symptoms of low dopamine. In this instance since TT mentions difficulties with decision-making, a trial of tyrosine may be worth considering, after she has increased tryptophan and increased GABA. More about tyrosine benefits here.

I do want to mention that DPA is not a precursor to dopamine but DLPA does offer some dopamine support. I share more about the differences between DPA and DLPA here.

I want to give my teens GABA and tryptophan – how do I measure GABA and serotonin levels?

I have two teenagers ages 14 and 16 who suffer from anxiety and depression. My daughter has more difficulty with depression and my son with ruminating thoughts . My father had similar issues. We have tried supplements, and medications that help a little.

I want to try giving them GABA and tryptophan, but to make sure that they in fact meet the criteria you describe. Is there a lab test that measures GABA and serotonin levels? Also, how can I figure out the dose and times to give them?

Here is my feedback for Maria …. The best way to determine if someone may have low GABA/serotonin is to look at the low GABA/serotonin symptoms questionnaire (here is that link), rate 1 or 2 symptoms on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being worst, do an initial one-off trial of the respective amino acid and rate the symptoms again right afterwards (in the next 2 to 30 minutes). Based on this we decide if we’ll continue with the amino acid and how much to use.

Dosing is unique to each person’s needs and timing differs for each amino acid – tryptophan is best mid-afternoon and evening and GABA throughout the day and evening if needed too.

I don’t use the urinary neurotransmitter test as it’s not considered an accurate assessment. I blogged about this here.

It’s a comprehensive approach – amino acids AND diet. This mom mentions supplements and medications but nothing about what their diets are like right now – gluten-free, sugar-free, caffeine-free, eating protein at breakfast for blood sugar control, real whole foods, grass-fed red meat, wild fish, fermented foods etc?

I also suggest my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” as a great place to start when you are new to the amino acids and other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc.

And this blog is a wonderful example and gives hope to moms – Tryptophan for my teenager: she laughs and smiles, her OCD and anxiety has lessened, and she is more goal oriented and focused on school. It’s one of many similar blogs so be sure to use the search feature to find others.

GABA and theanine help my anxiety, if I add tryptophan for sleep should I take it separately?

I have taken Gaba and L-theanine for anxiety for the last few years on and off as recommended by a doctor, it really does help although I still have sleeping problems. I also have a lot of symptoms on your low serotonin list so if I add tryptophan to see if it helps with sleep should I take it with the Gaba or separately?

Here is my response and feedback for Diane … I was glad to hear GABA and theanine are helping with the anxiety. I have many clients with low serotonin and low GABA symptoms take GABA, theanine and tryptophan at bedtime at the same time for improving sleep that is caused by low serotonin.

Diane has already identified that she has a lot of low serotonin symptoms from the questionnaire, so like I shared for Maria above, a trial is worth considering.

We always want to capitalize on what is already working so when GABA/theanine is helping with anxiety and offers some help with sleep we will often increase that before considering a trial of tryptophan.

I’m assuming she is addressing dietary factors too and other root causes that may also affect her sleep – like low blood sugar and high cortisol.

Would GABA or tryptophan help with jaw clenching and how do I test to see if they would help?

Would Gaba or tryptophan help with jaw clenching, not grinding, which I assume is an anxiety thing even when I’m unaware of any anxiety? Since I already use Gaba on and off for anxiety or if I can’t sleep (only taking 200 mg) how would I go about testing tryptophan to see if it would help for clenching?

Here is my feedback for Diane … Jaw clenching/TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues can be related to both low GABA because of the muscle tension and also when serotonin is low.

In the same way we do a trial with the amino acids for anxiety or low self-esteem (or another symptom like cravings) we would do a trial for the jaw clenching i.e. rate the severity on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being worst, do a trial of tryptophan and then GABA (separately) and rate the symptoms again right afterwards (in the next 2 to 30 minutes). And go from there, increasing each as needed (one at a time) and tracking symptom improvement.

Here is a case as an example: Tryptophan ends TMJ pain, headaches and worry, and improves mood and sleep.

Precaution about serotonin syndrome with tryptophan/5-HTP

There are precautions when using certain amino acids and I always review them with all my clients. If they have been prescribed an SSRI, I have them discuss the use of tryptophan/5-HTP with their prescribing doctor so they can be monitored for serotonin syndrome. With careful monitoring and doctor approval I feel comfortable having my clients use tryptophan/5-HTP 6 hours away from their one and only SSRI.

If they are using more than one SSRI and/or a combination of psychiatric medications, the use of tryptophan/5-HTP is not advised.

None of the above applied in these situations but it’s important to be aware of.

Tryptophan and GABA product options

Products I recommend include Lidtke 500 mg Tryptophan, Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, Doctor’s Best L-Tryptophan 500mg and Source Naturals GABA Calm lozenges and Now GABA Powder are products I recommend on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan or GABA and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

If, after reading this blog and my book, you don’t feel comfortable figuring things out on your own (i.e. doing the symptoms questionnaire and respective amino acids trials), if you need serotonin support, the Serotonin QuickStart Program is a good place to start. This is a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance on using tryptophan and 5-HTP safely, and community support during 5 LIVE Q&A calls. You can sign up to be notified when the next live launch of this program is happening. We take a deep dive into product options including Lidtke products and others if you’re not able to access Lidtke.

Low GABA can also affect sleep and cause stress eating. If you also have low GABA symptoms, the next step to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy Program.

This blog is a follow-on from the previous blog on this topic so be sure to read that blog too. It also features many valuable questions in the comments and my responses, hence this new post. I hope this has been helpful for you.

Wrapping up

Now I’d love to hear from you…

Have you had success using GABA and tryptophan together for anxiety, insomnia, ruminations, depression, overwhelm, TMJ etc?

Have you tweaked your dosing to find the ideal doses for your needs?

If yes, what doses and which products have helped?

If you’re a practitioner do you use tryptophan and GABA with clients/patients with these low serotonin and low GABA symptoms?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.

Mom switches her teen son from 5-HTP to tryptophan. In 3 days he has less anxiety, fears and ruminating thoughts, laughs more and sleeps better.

February 16, 2024 By Trudy Scott 40 Comments

My son has autism and OCD. I took him off fluvoxamine in May and used cbd and some other things and he was doing fine up until this past winter. He began having irrational fears and ruminating thoughts/fears that would not stop! I started 5-HTP, theanine, B12, probiotics with him for the last month and did not see any improvement. I was ready to go back to the medication when I came across your blog and information.

I assumed 5-HTP would be better for OCD, but after reading your comments you mentioned that you just switch to tryptophan if the 5-HTP is not working. I had tryptophan at home already. That night I emptied half a capsule into a little stevia flavored water and had him hold it in his mouth for a minute.

He was a different kid after that!!!! This is just the 3rd day but even his teachers are telling me he is doing really well and is less anxious at school. I am so thankful! I am now giving him 500mg in the morning and early evening.

I bought some inositol and plan to try adding that in the afternoons to see if that will help as well. I believe that he has PANDAS. He is a hand washer, and spits a lot, and has lots of other quirks that I would love to see decrease.

I have hope again! I am buying your book so that I can get a good plan going for him. If you have any other suggestions for him please let me know!!

This wonderful feedback was posted in the comments of one of the tryptophan blogs. I’m so thrilled for this mom and young man (he’s almost 20). I thanked her for sharing all this on the blog and offered to share additional generic feedback via a new blog post. I also asked for additional feedback on exactly how the tryptophan helped (more on that below).

Read on to learn how tryptophan helped with his ruminating thoughts, fears, crying and improved his sleep. And my insights about the ideal timing of tryptophan, finding the optimal dose and why it may work when 5-HTP doesn’t. I also share some insights about inositol and OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Low serotonin symptoms and the questions I had about his symptoms

I do hope he continues to see these benefits. Seeing such amazing results in 3 days is always what we’re looking for and it’s not unexpected to get such profound results so quickly!

I had some additional questions so I could share some general feedback as to how I work in situations like this. I wanted to know his age and if the switch to tryptophan helped any of his OCD symptoms and if yes how many notches improvement?

And which of the classic low serotonin symptoms the tryptophan helped and by how much: anxiety? irrational fears? and ruminating thoughts/fears? anything else? (all the low serotonin symptoms here)

Knowing this helps me know if I’m on track with a client i.e. the tryptophan is helping with low serotonin symptoms. And it also helps me decide we should consider increasing the dose and possibly adjust the number of times to use tryptophan. I share more about this below.

Tryptophan helps reduce his ruminating thoughts, fear and anxiety. And he’s laughing more and sleeps better

She shared some specific examples as to how much the tryptophan helps reduce his ruminating thoughts, fear and anxiety. And he’s laughing more and it helps him sleep:

He would often call me or text me throughout the day with questions about his health, and he would come to me 10-15 times in the afternoons/evenings, for about 3 weeks or so, and ask me the same questions about a rare disease that he believed he had.

He would cry and shake with fear and anxiety at some point and I would need to reassure him over and over again that he did not have this disease, and that it was literally impossible for him to have it.

After starting the tryptophan supplements 2x500mg morning/early evening he did not come to me at all and seemed content the 1st day.

Yesterday, he didn’t get the 2nd tryptophan until 5pm so he did come to me with 1 question/concern. I reassured him and he seemed fine especially after his supplement. Then 1 more question later that night but he accepted my reassurance both times and let it go.

So that was a big difference compared to the last 4 weeks. He was also laughing at some cartoon he was watching which I had not seen him do for a month either. Anxiety is less. He is sleeping better too. So far he still seems to believe the irrational things.

Tryptophan is clearly helping so many of his symptoms but we have more opportunities for further gains with tryptophan.

Tryptophan for low serotonin: dosing and timing

As I share in my book and other blog posts, typically 500 mg tryptophan twice a day is a good starting dose, used away from protein mid-afternoon and evening. It’s used like this because serotonin starts to decline in the afternoon. We increase based on individual needs to find the ideal dose. We may also add tryptophan or 5-HTP earlier in the day.

In a situation like this, if we were working together, I’d consider the following:

Adding a mid-afternoon dose of tryptophan
A switch to just afternoon and evening dosing (unless the morning dose was used for a specific reason i.e. morning symptoms)
Adding a second dose of tryptophan each time (he is using Nature Stacks Serotonin Brain Food and I’d recommend Lidtke 500 mg tryptophan for the second dose each time because it contains only tryptophan)

With changes we do one thing at a time and track symptom improvements carefully.

Tryptophan vs 5-HTP?

I commend her for figuring out the switch from 5-HTP to tryptophan.

It’s a well known fact that some folks just do better on one vs the other and if 5-HTP isn’t working I’ll have clients switch to tryptophan and vice versa. I typically start with tryptophan because it seems to be better tolerated. The biggest issue that I see with 5-HTP is that it’s often not tolerated if you have high cortisol. It can also cause nightmares for some folks.

Precaution about serotonin syndrome with tryptophan/5-HTP

If they are using more than one SSRI and/or a combination of psychiatric medications, the use of tryptophan/5-HTP is not advised.

None of the above applied in this situation but it’s important to be aware of.

Inositol and OCD: when to consider adding it?

OCD or even mildly obsessive behaviors or thoughts can be a sign of low serotonin. I will do a trial of tryptophan as above and for some folks it’s often enough. Sometimes tryptophan at least helps to some degree and when it’s not enough, adding inositol (a B vitamin) takes it to the next level.

For many folks 500 -1000 mg capsules are typically recommended but this is a really low dose for OCD. The powdered form is really effective because you can increase as needed. You can actually go as high as 18g. I start low, with 1-2g in kids and adults, and keep going up by 2g a week until the obsessive symptoms disappear. More on inositol and OCD here.

GABA, dopamine and endorphin support too

She mentions that her son “seems to be low serotonin, low GABA (1st 1/2 of the list), low endorphins and low catecholamines” so other amino acids are likely to be of benefit too.

As always we used the neurotransmitter symptoms questionnaire and do trials of each amino acid: GABA for low GABA symptoms, DPA for low endorphins and tyrosine for low dopamine. These trials of each one are done one at a time with careful tracking to find the ideal dose before layering in the next amino acid.

Using the amino acids so it’s easy to reduce sugar and go gluten-free

I also asked what dietary changes he has already made and she responded: “We are in the process of reducing sugar and going back to gluten-free as much as possible but this will be hardest to stick to. Have done a keto-like and gluten-free-casein-free diet on and off since he was 4 years old.”

This is a great start and using the amino acids help reduce cravings and make it easy to reduce sugar and go gluten-free.

There is a sugar cravings aspect to all the neurotransmitter imbalances. The type of craving can be found on the above symptoms questionnaire. It’s not uncommon to need support in more than one area:

Low serotonin – tryptophan or 5-HTP for afternoon/evening cravings
Low endorphins – DPA for comfort/reward eating
Low catecholamines – tyrosine for low energy sugar cravings
Low GABA – GABA for stress eating

I’m glad she is getting a copy of my book The Antianxiety Food Solution. It has all the foundational dietary information, sections on cravings and a chapter on the amino acids.

It also has a chapter on pyroluria, which is very common in autism and something I help most of my clients address. Here is the pyroluria questionnaire.

Tryptophan and inositol product options

Products I recommend include Lidtke 500 mg Tryptophan and Designs for Health Inositol Powder. You can purchase these from my online store (Fullscript – only available to US customers – use this link to set up an account).

If you’re not in the US, Doctor’s Best L-Tryptophan 500mg and Now Inositol Powder are products I recommend on iherb (use this link to save 5%).

Additional resources when you are new to using tryptophan and other amino acids as supplements

We use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low serotonin or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue for you.

If you also have low GABA symptoms, the next step to get help is the GABA QuickStart Program. This is also a paid online/virtual group program where you get my guidance and community support. Another option is the budget-friendly GABA QuickStart Homestudy program.

Now I’d like to hear from you

Have you had success with tryptophan for anxiety, fears, crying and ruminations? And has it also helped with sleep, how happy you feel and reduced cravings? Has it also helped with OCD?

Did you first trial 5-HTP and then found tryptophan worked better or vice versa?

If yes, what dose and when do you use it?

What about using inositol to further reduce OCD? And what dose helped?

If you’re a practitioner do you use tryptophan and/or inositol with clients/patients with these low serotonin symptoms?

And please let me know if it’s helpful that I’m now including product recommendations and where to get them?

Feel free to share and ask your questions below.