title: Effect of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan on the blood pressure of patients with mild to moderate hypertension.
abstract: Chronic treatment with L-tryptophan (4 g/day) reduced mean blood pressure in 8 of 9 patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension. No significant side effects of treatment were observed. An additional group of 8 patients was treated chronically with L-5-hydroxytryptophan (800 mg/day), the immediate precursor of serotonin. Five of the 8 patients had a significant reduction in mean arterial pressure. No significant side effects of treatment were observed. The reduction of blood pressure accompanying treatment with L-5-hydroxytryptophan suggests that at least a portion of the antihypertensive effect of L-tryptophan is mediated via serotonin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Box J274, 32610, Gainesville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cade
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fregly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Privette