PHEYLALANINE AS USED IN NOOTROPICS

Phenylalanine is an amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. It is an essential
amino acid, which means the bodyneeds it for health but cannot create it but must receive it as
part of a diet, usually when consuming protein (in foods like eggs, milk and meat, and also
present in breast milk).
It is also present in a food sweetener known as aspartame. It is found in three forms: Lphenylalanine which is the natural form found in proteins, D-phenylalanine which is made in the
lab and DL- phenylalanine which is a combination of the two (Fooducate, 2011).
On the other hand, nootropics (also called smart drugs and cognitive enhancers) are drug,
supplements, or other substances that improve cognitive function, particularly executive
functions (cognitive control and supervisory attentional system), memory, creativityor
motivation in healthy individuals ( Frati et al . , 2015).Phenylalanine is a good candidate in
nootropics, as it exhibits these characteristics, therefore it is used as a nootropic.

PHENYLALANINE USES IN THE BODY

The body changes phenylalanine into tyrosine, another amino acid that is needed to make
proteins and brain chemicals, including L-dopa, epinephrine, norepinephrine and thyroid
hormones. All these chemicals are vital for proper functioning of the nervous system. As a
nootropic, phenylalanine has many different positive effects including mood enhancement,
anxiety relief, increased focus and concentration as well as improved motivation.
Although the specific mechanisms of action for phenylalanine are still not fully understood, it is
known that this supplement crosses the blood brain barrier and enters into the central nervous
system. This barrier is a protective defense of red blood cells and the glia of the brain which
does not allow toxins, bacteria or viruses to enter into the brain and the central nervous system.
However, the same barrier also keeps out many potentially beneficial compounds. The fact that
phenylalanine can cross the blood-brain barrier is integral to its effectiveness as a cognitive
enhancement supplement.

It is critical to the functioning of the nervous system, especially regarding symptoms like
depression and chronic pain and additional diseases that have been linked to a malfunctioning
nervous system. (Linssen, Riedel &Sambeth, 2011)
BENEFITS

Phenylalanine supplementation. This includes helping to improve memory, enhance overall

alertness and possibly expand learning capacity. It also enables the overall nervous system to
operate more efficiently. Signals which carry information from neuron to neuron are conducted
faster and more effectively. Primarily due to these effects, phenylalanine is being used in the
treatment of depression, bipolar disorder, hyperactivity and Parkinsons disease.
This amino acid is thought to function as an effective pain reliever, especially for migraine and
other headaches. It also appears to be quite effective for other types of pain including the lower
back and neck, arthritis, and menstrual cramps. The supplement also appears to work through upregulation of your endogenous analgesia system which actually suppresses nerve transmission in
your pain path ways (Bjork et al., 2014).
Many of the neurotransmitters produced by this supplement are effective at improving overall
mood and impart a feeling of greater well-being that can help with stress levels, relieve anxiety,
and even combat feelings of depression. Using this supplement can put you in a positive state of
mind and lead to better emotional balance (Sonneville et al, 2009)

PHENYLALANINE DOSAGE
Phenylalanine can be effectively taken over a wide range of dosages. According to clinical
studies and research it have been used from 100mg to 500mg per day. Typically, some people
stick to 1000 to 2000 mg range per day.

POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Although phenylalanine is known to be generally safe and well tolerated it is however associated
with some side effects. The most common ones being nausea, headaches and heart burn. It is also

advisable not to use it while taking anti-psychotic medication and specific anti-depressantsmonoamine oxidase inhibitors (Ramdani et al., 2015).
When taken in large quantities, it can trigger ADD/ADH, emotional and behavioral disorders.
Especially in the one out of ten thousand people who are PKU (who carry the Phenylketonuria
gene which causes people to build up too much phenylalanine in their bodies), it can cause
irreversible brain damage and death. When consumed during pregnancy, it can increase chances
of birth defects. The risk for facial defects is highest at weeks 10-14, nervous system and growth
defects between 3-16 weeks and heart defects at 3-8 weeks.
When used by people who have schizophrenia, phenylalanine can cause or worsen symptoms of
a movement disorder (tardive dyskinesia TD) characterized by involuntary movements of the
tongue, lips, face trunk and limbs that can occur in people taking antipsychotic drugs long term
(Ramdani et al., 2015).

CONCLUSION
The various side effects notwithstanding, this nootropic has many benefits like allievating stress
and anxiety, it acts as a pain reliever, increased attention, inhibition control and drive. This
makes it an ideal supplement or productivity pill. However, its metabolite phenylethylamine is
more common for commercial purposes as a nootropic than phenylalanine.

REFERENCES
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