Benefits, Deficiency Symptoms and Sources of the Amino Acid Tyrosine

Tyrosine is one of the amino acids that serve as the body's building blocks. The proteins that you need to survive and thrive are the architecture that amino acids blocks build. Tyrosine is just one of many amino acids, but it is looked to for perhaps being essential in benefiting some people. One especially important consideration of tyrosine is its ability to increase blood levels of norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine over the short term. Since levels of these substances produced by the body can be of great help or hindrance to a person, this ability of tyrosine could potentially be even more significant.

The benefits of tyrosine are mainly speculative rather than being the object of a number of serious medical studies. Among the benefits that a person may gain from tyrosine are those that relate to mood and depression. Tyrosine's effect on norepinephrine, dopamine and epinephrine is directly related to the amino acid's possible use one day to control depression as a clinical disease. The part that tyrosine plans in regulating and elevating moods is still not clear and the field remains open for a truly significant finding. Other benefits of tyrosine include improving memory and mental alertness. For some people, tyrosine may be a painkiller while for those suffering from chronic fatigue and narcolepsy, it may be a lifesaver.

Deficiencies of tyrosine are usually related to the levels of other amino acids at work in the body. As with all amino acid deficiencies, the real problem is an overall protein deficiency. If you aren't getting enough protein, the result may be a lack of adequate tyrosine. A lack of adequate tyrosine could result in a variety of symptoms. A moderate lack of tyrosine could be related to a retardation of growth in children or low levels of protein in the blood. Severe deficiencies are exposed through symptoms such as increased apathy and fatigue, loss of color in the hair, loss of muscle and fat and potential liver damage. Other possible symptoms related to a deficiency of tyrosine could include sexual dysfunction like impotence or just a sudden lack of interest in sex, failing memory or an increase in weight to the point of obesity.

Those who are advised to caution against increased amounts of tyrosine in the body include anyone with an allergy to food protein, especially eggs and milk. If you are suffering from migraine headaches, you may want to reconsider taking tyrosine supplements. Others who are advised against taking more tyrosine include people with skin cancer or anyone who may still be taking an MAOI antidepressant.

Natural food sources for tyrosine range from lima beans to shellfish, cottage cheese to pork and beans, ice cream to soybeans and peanuts to pumpkin seeds.