Tyrosine

Why tyrosine is good for you

Tyrosine is a non-essential amino acid which is helpful in the proper functioning of the thyroid, pituitary and adrenal glands. It also assists in reducing body fat and suppressing the appetite and ensuring healthy production of skin and hair pigment.

Tyrosine is also used for stress reduction and may be beneficial in narcolepsy, fatigue, anxiety, depression, allergies, headaches as well as drug withdrawal.

Important tyrosine facts

• Tyrosine is abundant in insulin as well as the enzyme papain
• Tyrosine is the precursor amino acid for the thyroid gland hormone thyroxin
• Tyrosine is a precursor of the neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine – all extremely important in the brain, as they transmit normal nerve impulses and prevent depression
• Tyrosine is involved in the metabolism of the amino acid phenylalanine

Tyrosine works best with

• Folic Acid
• Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
• Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
• Vitamin C
• Chromium
• Copper
• Iodine
• Zinc

Tyrosine and health

• Stress relief – in a study using soldiers, tyrosine proved effective in alleviating stress and keeping the soldiers more alert

Talk to a medical professional about tyrosine supplements before taking them

Groups at risk of tyrosine deficiency

Deficiency is rare, but can occur in the following individuals:

• People on low protein diets – people who are not eating enough protein foods may not get enough tyrosine in their diet
• Vegans and vegetarians – people who are on a strict vegetarian diet may suffer from a tyrosine deficiency if their diet is deficient in protein

People in these groups at risk of tyrosine deficiency should talk to a medical professional about tyrosine supplementation.

Symptoms of tyrosine deficiency

General deficiency symptoms are:

• low blood pressure
• low body temperature (including cold hands and feet)
• restless leg syndrome

A major deficiency in tyrosine may may result in hypothyroidism – an enlargement of the thyroid gland (goiter), severe growth failure, and retardation of central nervous system development.

Tyrosine in food

Tyrosine recommended daily intake (RDI)

Overdosage, toxicity and cautions for tyrosine

There have been no confirmed toxic levels, but the following cautions should be noted.

Precautions

The following groups of people should not take tyrosine supplementation and should aim to limit their intake of food sources high in tyrosine:

• people taking MAO inhibitors,
• people who have high blood pressure
• people who have skin cancer (melanoma)
• people who have glioblastoma

Interactions

References

• Banderet LE, Lieberman HR. Treatment with tyrosine, a neurotransmitter precursor, reduces environmental stress in humans. Brain Res Bull. 1989 Apr;22(4):759-62
• Osiecki H, Meeke F, Smith J, The Encyclopaedia of Clinical Nutrition – Volume 1: The Nervous System, BioConceps Publishing QLD 2004
• Owasoyo JO, Neri DF, Lamberth JG. Tyrosine and its potential use as a countermeasure to performance decrement in military sustained operations. Aviat Space Environ Med. 1992 May;63(5):364-9
• Salter CA. Dietary tyrosine as an aid to stress resistance among troops. Mil Med. 1989 Mar;154(3):144-6

Last reviewed and updated: 8 May 2024