D, L-Phenylalanine Capsules

First of all, what is phenylalanine? It’s an essential amino acid, which means your body can’t produce enough of it on its own, so it must come from external sources. Phenylalanine supports the production of important neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

These hormones are often reduced by age, stress, and certain drugs and need to be replenished. Supplementing with phenylalanine can therefore offer a wide range of cognitive health benefits.

D,L-Phenylalanine is a 50/50 blend of its two forms, the stereoisomers D-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine. These stereoisomers are converted to L-tyrosine in the liver.

The process continues in the brain and adrenal glands, where L-tyrosine is converted into neurotransmitters called catecholamines, which are the healthy hormones dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (adrenaline), which again can promote mood and neurotransmitter health.

The brain chemistry support

Catecholamines are a class of molecules that act as neurotransmitters and hormones in various body regions. These chemical messengers include dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline), which are derived from the amino acid tyrosine.

These tyrosine-derived neurotransmitters play diverse roles in the brain and body:

• Epinephrine: This is made (from tyrosine) in the adrenal medulla and functions as a neurohormone and is known as adrenaline. (1)

• Norepinephrine: In addition to acting as a neurotransmitter that can promote healthy mood and sleep, it’s known to protect brain cells by promoting a healthy inflammatory response, inhibiting oxidative stress and supporting healthy neuronal growth and connectivity. (2)

• Dopamine: While this hormone is often linked to reward and motivation, it’s also recognized as mediator of higher-level cognitive capacities. (3,4)

Phenylalanine supplementation

The decline in brain catecholamine production that occurs with aging may be a contributing factor in normal age-related cognitive decline. (3,5)

Providing catecholamine precursors such as phenylalanine can promote and protect brain health. (6) The enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of tyrosine to dopamine may work more efficiently if its co-factors vitamins B6 and C are included. (7,8)

Phenylalanine supplementation can promote healthy neurotransmitter synthesis, and clinical trials have demonstrated that it can encourage positive moods. (9,10)

Since both norepinephrine and epinephrine can cause smooth muscle (arterial) contraction, care with blood pressure should be taken when supplementing with phenylalanine.