Tryptophan · 60 capsules

As an essential amino acid (EAA), L-tryptophan is vital for humans and is therefore also required for muscle building and muscle repair processes. In its capacity as a serotonin precursor, tryptophan is also a popular supplement that is often taken before sleep.

Tryptophan is optimized by a vitamin B complex for better assimilation and utilization.

What can I expect from tryptophan?

Tryptophan is an essential amino acid that you should take in isolation so that it can fulfill its role as a serotonin precursor. The overall effects of supplementing with tryptophan on muscle building are rather indirect and depend very much on your other dietary habits and the use of supplementary supplements (BCAAs, protein, creatine).

For an overall sufficient and constant supply of amino acids, you should also make sure you have fast (especially in the morning, before and after training) and slow proteins so that the strong but short functional boost of tryptophan is supported by sufficient building substrates and muscle breakdown processes are avoided.

Functionality and mode of action of tryptophan

In contrast to amino acids from normal food, protein concentrates or amino acid combinations,individual amino acids such as tryptophan have the advantage that they can develop their very special functionality in isolation. This can only happen if the individual amino acid is dominant, i.e. enters the blood pool as isolated as possible. With complete protein sources, on the other hand, a large number of amino acids always enter the blood pool at the same time, with the amino acids competing to a certain extent for dominance. In this respect, individual amino acids should preferably be taken on an empty stomach.

Just like the BCAAs leucine, isoleucine and valine, tryptophan is an essential amino acid and therefore absolutely necessary for building muscle and cell mass as well as many endogenous proteins. Athletes often consume protein concentrates that are low in tryptophan, which is why supplementation with tryptophan often makes sense.

In addition to its property as a muscle building material, which all 8 EAAs together fulfill, tryptophan is often supplemented because of its property as a serotonin precursor.

Serotonin is formed endogenously from tryptophan via an intermediate step involving the enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and tissue hormone that is also known colloquially as the "happiness hormone" and has a variety of functions, including mood, sleep-wake rhythm and appetite.