title: Tryptophan loading induces oxidative stress.
abstract: In previous studies tryptophan loads have been administered to human subjects in order to raise central levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT) and assess the effects of 5HT on behaviour and mood. However, tryptophan is metabolised primarily along the oxidative kynurenine pathway. In this study a 6 g oral tryptophan load was administered to 15 healthy volunteers and the levels of kynurenines and lipid peroxidation products (indicative of oxidative stress) were measured. The results demonstrate that tryptophan loading produces a highly significant increase in lipid peroxidation products in parallel with increased kynurenines. The oxidative stress may result from the generation of quinolinic acid, 3-hydroxykynurenine, and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid, all of which are known to have the ability to generate free radicals. The results may have implications for the use of tryptophan loading in psychiatric practice, and for the chronic use of diets high in tryptophan.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, West Medical Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Forrest
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mackay
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stoy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egerton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Christofides
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Darlington
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015394:Molecular Structure; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007737:Kynurenine; D014364:Tryptophan