Haleem Darakhshan Jabeen
Neuroscience Research Laboratory, Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine & Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Science (ICCBS), University of Karachi, Karachi 75270, Pakistan.
Life Sci. 2017 Jun 1;178:87-93. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.04.015. Epub 2017 Apr 22.
A growing body of evidence suggests that our diet is an important contributing factor in the development, management and prevention of a number of psychiatric illnesses. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is the sole precursor of neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; serotonin). Administration of tryptophan can boost serotonin neurotransmission to produce therapeutically important effects in serotonin deficiency disorders. Anorexia nervosa (AN) an eating disorder associated with high levels of psychiatric comorbidity including psychosis, hyperactivity, depression and anxiety has highest lethality of all psychiatric illnesses. Evidence suggests that excessive dieting and food restriction can decrease brain tryptophan and serotonin in AN patients to precipitate depression, psychosis and hyperactivity. There are currently no FDA approved pharmacological treatments available for AN patients; antidepressants and antipsychotics, largely used to treat associated psychiatric comorbidities are also not very effective. The aim of this non-systematic review article is to evaluate and document a potential importance of tryptophan supplementation in improving therapeutics in AN patients.
越来越多的证据表明，我们的饮食是多种精神疾病发生、管理和预防的一个重要促成因素。色氨酸是一种必需氨基酸，是神经递质5-羟色胺（5-HT；血清素）的唯一前体。给予色氨酸可以增强血清素神经传递，从而在血清素缺乏症中产生重要的治疗效果。神经性厌食症（AN）是一种饮食失调症，与包括精神病、多动、抑郁和焦虑在内的高水平精神共病相关，在所有精神疾病中致死率最高。有证据表明，过度节食和食物限制会降低AN患者大脑中的色氨酸和血清素，从而引发抑郁、精神病和多动。目前，美国食品药品监督管理局（FDA）尚未批准用于AN患者的药物治疗；主要用于治疗相关精神共病的抗抑郁药和抗精神病药也不是很有效。这篇非系统性综述文章的目的是评估并记录补充色氨酸在改善AN患者治疗效果方面的潜在重要性。
