title: Nutritive value of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan in man.
abstract: The nutritive value of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan was investigated by loading tests with deuterated L-tryptophan and deuterated N-acetyl-L-tryptophan in three healthy adults, and by a 7 day-long feeding experiment with deuterated N-acetyl-L-tryptophan in one healthy adult. After loading with deuterated N-acetyl-L-tryptophan, serum levels of deuterated tryptophan and kynurenine were only about 10%, and the amounts of deuterated 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid excreted in 24 h approximately 30% of those found after deuterated tryptophan loading. During the feeding experiment with deuterated N-acetyl-L-tryptophan, the serum level of deuterated tryptophan remained below 20% of total serum tryptophan, and serum protein fell below the normal range. It is concluded that the nutritive value of N-acetyl-L-tryptophan is inferior to that of L-tryptophan. Contradictory findings of earlier studies are discussed.
mesh_terms: D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D003903:Deuterium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009753:Nutritive Value; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D007737:Kynurenine; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D014364:Tryptophan; D003903:Deuterium