Tryptophan is an amino acid needed for normal growth in infants and for the production and maintenance of the body's proteins, muscles, enzymes, and neurotransmitters. It is an essential amino acid. This means your body cannot produce it, so you must get it from your diet.
The body uses tryptophan to help make melatonin and serotonin. Melatonin helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle, and serotonin is thought to help regulate appetite, sleep, mood, and pain.
An insufficient dietary intake of tryptophan can lead to low serotonin levels, deficiency can lead to neuropsychological symptoms including depression, anxiety, irritability, impulsiveness, inability to concentrate, poor dream recall and insomnia.
Tryptophan depletion is associated with increased pain sensitivity and aggression in humans.
