D-Phenylalanine (DPA) is an amino acid that destroys the enzyme that breaks down endorphins. Endorphins are feel-good chemicals that you experience with an endorphin rush when you go for a run or when someone gives you a big hug, when you show kindness to someone or someone does something nice for you. Taking the amino acid DPA, as a supplement helps to boost your endorphins in order to improve mood, reduce pain and cravings or comfort-eating.
I’ve recommended the Lidtke Endorphigen product (500mg DPA) to my clients and community for many years, and wrote about it in my book and on various blog posts. Because product formulations have shifted and capsules changed, I’ve revised my recommendations over the years. I’ve suggested swallowing a capsule, then suggested chewing the capsule (when the company used gelatin capsules and clients saw quicker results than swallowing the capsule) and then suggested opening the capsule and tipping the contents on to the tongue (when the company switched to vegan capsules).
I then also started recommending Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine 500mg as another option and because many in the community didn’t like the taste and texture of the Lidtke product (more on that below). This product has now been discontinued.
The purpose of this blog post is to announce a new product: D-Phenylalanine (DPA) powder and share my current recommendations on the use of DPA for endorphin support. And some examples and feedback (from clients and my personal experiences too) in case you’re new to this amino acid and low endorphins.
Lidtke Endorphigen with 500mg D-phenylalanine (capsules)
Here is the new label for the Lidtke Endorphigen with 500mg D-phenylalanine. As you can see it also contains vitamin B2 and vitamin B6. The latest version now contains arrowroot flour as a filler.
This product has been a firm favorite of mine for many years and the formulation has shifted over the years.
Last year I did a taste difference blog on Lidtke Endorphigen and Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine – Lidtke Endorphigen vs Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine: the taste difference and endorphin boosting benefits for mood and cravings
Many of my clients (and myself included) describe the opened DPA (from capsules) as a dark-chocolate bitter like taste that is not unpleasant. However, about half my clients don’t particularly like the taste of DPA and one woman in my community, Ali, was ready to give up on the Lidtke Endorphigen product because of the taste. I suspect it was the B vitamins that she didn’t like.
Oh goodness. If I open the Endorphigen on my tongue, it’s just awful. I might be able to get 1/4 of it but that’s it. And the taste stays there for at least an hour. No sense of chocolate in there for me. Isn’t that interesting that you and others like the taste. I consider myself pretty open to whatever needs to be done but wow, this is almost no way.
I reached out to Lidtke sharing the taste issue and the above blog post, and asked if they would be willing to offer a DPA only product and suggested a powder.
Lidtke appreciated the fact that I shared your taste issues and feedback, and my request for a powder-only product of d-phenyalanine/DPA has come to fruition.
Doctor’s Best D-phenylalanine has been discontinued, so this is great news taste-wise and for a number of other reasons (listed below)!
The brand new Lidtke D-Phenylalanine (DPA) powder
Here is the label for the brand new Lidtke D-Phenylalanine (DPA) powder. As you can see it’s only DPA – no added B vitamins or fillers.
Here are the advantages of DPA in powder form:
- A capsule opened on to the tongue offers mood and pain benefits so why not simply use the powder instead
- Fewer capsules to swallow
- Fewer digestive issues the cellulose of vegan capsules are not tolerated (I’m hearing more and more feedback about this)
- Convenient for kids and older adults who may have problems swallowing capsules
- A pleasant dark-chocolate like taste with none of bitterness of B vitamins
- Hopefully, more affordable than the capsules
My personal experience with DPA
Personally I have used DPA over the years with much success. It’s my go-to amino acid for all kinds of pain – a sprained ankle, a pulled back muscle, a tension headache (and even a headache caused by chocolate) and belly pain during an IBS flare.
I’ve also used it for endorphin support when I have not been able to exercise due to an injury. I immediately notice a subtle mood boost and a reduction in comfort-eating and carb-cravings.
I have the new Endorphigen 500mg DPA product (i.e. the capsules) and it’s helping in the same way as the previous version.
I have yet to try the new DPA (d-phenylalanine) powder myself but will report back as soon as I have had a chance to do so – on the taste, the texture and the effectiveness.
Other DPA feedback from the community
I suspect many folks who already like the Lidtke 500mg Endorphigen and find opening the capsules to be more effective, are going to like the new powder:
- “I love using the DPA! I use the Lidke brand. Very helpful in improving mood and anxiety. Open on my tongue. I like the taste!” ~ Lynn
- “It’s interesting to read your recommendation to open the capsule … I had just started doing that! (Already using powdered forms of other aminos) Anyone looking thru my trash might wonder what I’m up to. This method really works for me.” ~ Joan
Here are a few blog posts illustrating the use of DPA in multiple sclerosis, weepiness, physical pain, emotional pain and resilience, cravings/emotional eating and even helping to wean off prescription pain medication:
- Multiple sclerosis: low endorphin research and the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) for pain, depression, comfort and trauma support “The endogenous opioid system is …well known to play a role in the development of chronic pain and negative affect [i.e. depression], both of which are common comorbidities in MS.”
- DPA for weepiness, pain and comfort and reward eating
- The individual amino acids glutamine, GABA, tryptophan (or 5-HTP), DPA and tyrosine are powerful for eliminating sugar cravings, often within 5 minutes
- When using the amino acid DPA (d-phenylalanine) I have more resilience and more buffer in the caregiving work I do, and just the oops’s of life As I mentioned above, using DPA over these holidays also gave me more resilience and the endorphin boost I needed help with the emotional pain of losing my mom.
- Wean off prescription pain medication, improve sleep and reduce emotional eating with DPA (an endorphin-boosting amino acid)
Be sure to use the search feature on the blog to find additional applications of DPA.
Additional resources when you are new to using DPA, tryptophan, GABA, and other amino acids as supplements
As always, I use the symptoms questionnaire to figure out if low endorphins or low serotonin or low GABA or other neurotransmitter imbalances may be an issue.
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.
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). 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
My current recommendations for endorphin support are as follows:
- Lidtke Endorphigen with 500mg D-phenylalanine – capsules swallowed
- Lidtke Endorphigen with 500mg D-phenylalanine – capsules opened on to the tongue and held in the mouth 1-2 minutes
- Lidtke D-phenylalanine powder – on to the tongue and held in the mouth 1-2 minutes (assuming it works as well as Endorphigen)
Now I’d love to hear from you – how has DPA helped your mood, cravings and pain?
Have you used Lidtke Endorpigen 500mg or Doctor’s Best D-Phenylalanine in the past – capsules swallowed or opened on the tongue? Have you had any issues with the taste or texture?
Are you interested in trying the new Lidtke D-Phenylalanine powder?
If you’re a practitioner do you use DPA with your clients/patients?
Feel free to share and ask your questions below.