Description – Tryptophan is an essential amino acids present in the body and used by cells to synthesize proteins. This is an essential amino acid, meaning that it is only ingested from diet. Tryptophan is found in a wide variety of protein-containing foods, including eggs, cheese, meat (especially turkey), fish, wheat, rice, potatoes, and bananas. l-tryptophan and its metabolite 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), the immediate precursor of serotonin, have been used for improving sleep because serotonin is known to have multiple functions in the regulation of wake and sleep states
Function – L-tryptophan is used for insomnia, sleep apnea, depression, anxiety, facial pain, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), smoking cessation, grinding teeth during sleep (bruxism), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Tourette’s syndrome, and to improve athletic performance.