Tyrosine

Tyrosine is an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. The body makes tyrosine from another amino acid called phenylalanine. Tyrosine can also be found in dairy products, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, oats, and wheat.

Tyrosine is most commonly used in protein supplements for an inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). It is also used for alcoholism, cocaine dependence, and memory and thinking skills, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

The body uses tyrosine, an amino acid, to make chemical messengers that are involved in conditions involving the brain such as mental alertness.

When taken by mouth: Tyrosine is LIKELY SAFE when taken in food amounts. It is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by adults as a medicine, short-term. Tyrosine seems to be safe when taken in doses up to 150 mg/kg daily for up to 3 months. Some people experience side effects such as nausea, headache, fatigue, and heartburn.

When applied to the skin: Tyrosine is POSSIBLY SAFE when applied to the skin.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

ADULTS

BY MOUTH:

• For memory and thinking skills (cognitive function): A single dose of 100-300 mg/kg or 2 grams of tyrosine has been taken before a stressful mental task.
• For memory: 150-300 mg/kg of tyrosine has been used before a memory task.
• For an inherited disorder that increases levels of phenylalanine in the blood (phenylketonuria or PKU): Foods and medical foods providing 4-6 grams of tyrosine daily are recommended. Women with PKU who are pregnant or breastfeeding are advised to consume foods providing 6-7.6 grams of tyrosine daily. A doctor will measure tyrosine levels in the blood to make sure they don't become too high or too low. For most people with PKU, additional separate supplementation with free tyrosine is not recommended. It can cause wide variations in the amount of tyrosine in the blood. This could cause unwanted side effects.

• For an inherited disorder that increases levels of phenylalanine in the blood (phenylketonuria or PKU): Foods and medical foods providing tyrosine 1.1-6.0 grams daily, depending on age, are recommended from infancy. A doctor will measure tyrosine levels in the blood to make sure they don't become too high or too low. For most people with PKU, additional separate supplementation with free tyrosine is not recommended. It can cause wide variations in the amount of tyrosine in the blood. This could cause unwanted side effects.

2-Acetylamino-3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)-Propanoic Acid, Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, Acétyl-L-Tyrosine, L-Tyrosine, N-Acetyl L-Tyrosine, N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine, N-Acétyl L-Tyrosine, N-Acetyl-Tyrosine, N-Acétyl-Tyrosine, Tirosina, Tyr, Tyrosinum, 2-amino-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid.

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