L-phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids, meaning that the body is not capable of producing it, and we need to obtain it from food sources. Like other amino acids, L-phenylalanine is one of the building blocks for proteins. It is converted to tyrosine, another amino acid, and is part of the process of normal growth, particularly the growth of muscles.
L-phenylalanine drives growth and synthesizes mus cle protein. Accordingly, it is an important nutrient for anyone who is trying to enhance fitness, muscle development or growth. However, there is considerable evidence of other benefits as well. For example, L-phenylalanine is sometimes used as a treatment for vitiligo, a skin disorder that causes white, non-pigmented patches to appear on the skin. It enhances mental energy and sharpness as well, and can also improve memory, allowing one to retain full mental functioning during aging.
Moreover, although further studies are still being conducted it is suspected that L-phenylalanine might be of use in treating depression. This is because, as it metabolizes, it produces the neurotransmitters noriepinephrine and dopamine, which are both known to have an anti-depressant effect. If the current studies in the use of L-phenylalanine for depression prove conclusive, it will be of enormous benefit to sufferers, allowing them to avoid the side-effects of pharmaceutical treatments.
L-phenylalanine is found in many protein-rich foods, including meat, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products and beans. L-phenylalanine may be beneficial in doses varying from 75 mg to 1500 mg per day. Exceeding 1500 mg except under a doctor's supervision is not recommended.
References 1) Heller B. Pharmacological and clinical effects of D-phenylalanine in depression and Parkinson’s disease. In: Mosnaim AD, Wolf ME, eds. Noncatecholic Phenylethylamines . Part 1. New York, NY: Marcel Dekker; 1978:397-417. 2) http://www.supplementinfo.org.
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