Treatment with Tyrosine, a Neurotransmitter Precursor, Reduces Environmental Stress in Humans,
Abstract
Acutely stressful situations can disrupt behavior and deplete brain norepinephrine and dopamine, central catecholaminergic neurotransmitters. In animals, administration of tyrosine, a large neutral amino acid and dietary precursor of the catecholamines, reduces these behavioral and neurochemical deficits. We investigated whether tyrosine (100 mg/kg) would protect humans from some of the adverse consequences of a 4.5 hour exposure of a combination of environmental stressors. Tyrosine decreased symptoms, adverse moods, and performance impairments in subjects with average or greater responses to cold and high altitude exposure. This suggests that treatment with tyrosine may benefit humans experiencing acutely stressful situations, perhaps by affecting central catecholamines. Keywords: Stress(Physiology).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA194752
Entities
People
- H. R. Lieberman
- L. E. Banderet
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine