cron-web.org

[A1CR]

The low levels http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan of
those with
anorexia nervosa may be different from that of CRONers, and
may cause the
greater mortality from diseases such as suicide in the
former than the
latter. This may be something to consider during
Thanksgiving Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tryptophan#Tryptophan_and_turkey
meals. Low
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serotonin may involve "several
disorders,
notably depression, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS), tinnitus,
fibromyalgia, bipolar disorder and anxiety."

Diaz-Marsa M, Lozano C, Herranz A, Asensio-Vegas M, Martin
O, Revert L,
Saiz-Ruiz J, Carrasco J.
Acute tryptophan depletion in eating disorders.
Actas Esp Psiquiatr. 2006 Nov-Dec;34(6):397-402.
PMID: 17117337

Introduction. This work describes the rational bases
justifying the use of
acute tryptophan depletion technique in eating disorders
(ED) and the
methods and design used in our studies. Tryptophan depletion
technique has
been described and used in previous studies safely and makes
it possible to
evaluate the brain serotonin activity. Therefore it is used
in the
investigation of hypotheses on serotonergic deficiency in
eating disorders.
Furthermore, and given the relationship of the dysfunctions
of serotonin
activity with impulsive symptoms, the technique may be
useful in biological
differentiation of different subtypes, that is restrictive
and bulimic, of
ED.

Methods. 57 female patients with DSM-IV eating disorders and
20 female
controls were investigated with the tryptophan depletion
test. A
tryptophan-free amino acid solution was administered orally
after a two-day
low tryptophan diet to patients and controls. Free plasma
tryptophan was
measured at two and five hours following administration of
the drink. Eating
and emotional responses were measured with specific scales
for five hours
following the depletion. A study of the basic
characteristics of the
personality and impulsivity traits was also done.
Relationship of the
response to the test with the different clinical subtypes
and with the
temperamental and impulsive characteristics of the patients
was studied.

Results. The test was effective in considerably reducing
plasma tryptophan
in five hours from baseline levels (76%) in the global
sample. The test was
well tolerated and no severe adverse effects were reported.
Two patients
withdrew from the test due to gastric intolerance.

Conclusions. The tryptophan depletion test could be of value
to study
involvement of serotonin deficits in the symptomatology and
pathophysiology
of eating disorders.