Proper Name: dl-Phenylalanine

Common Name: dl-Phenylalanine/ Phenylalanine 

Evidence of Efficacy: statement to the effect of dl-Phenylalanine deficiency or imbalance plays a role in the symptoms of mood disorders. Observational and experimental studies have shown an association between dl-Phenylalanine and ADHD^1,2,3, bipolar disorder^4,5,6,7, and depression^{7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17}.                  

References:

1. Bornstein Ra, Baker GB, Carroll A, et al. Plasma amino acids in attention deficit disorder. Psychiatry Res 33(3):301-6, 1990.

2. Zametkin AJ et al. Treatment of hyperactive children with D-phenylalanine. Am J Psychiatry 144(6):792-4, 1987

3. Wood DR et al. Treatment of attention deficit disorder with DL-phenylalanine. Psychiatry Res 16:21-6, 1985.

4.Simonson M. L-phenylalanine. Letter. J Clin Psychiatry 46(8):355, 1985

5. Sabelli HC et al. Clinical studies on the phenylethylamine hypothesis of affective disorder: Urine and blood phenylacetic acid and phenylalanine dietary supplements. J Clin Psychiatry 47(2):66-70, 1986.

6. Kravitz HM, Sabelli HC, Fawcett J. Dietary supplements of phenylalanine and other amino acid precursors of brain neuroamines in the treatment of depressive disorders. J Am Osteopath Assoc 84(1) (Suppl):119-23, 1984.

7. Simonson M. L-phenylalanine. Letter. J Clin Psychiatry 46(8):355, 1985.

8. Spatz H, Spatz N. Urinary and brain phenylethylamine levels under normal and pathological conditions, in AD Mosnaim & ME Wolf, Eds. Noncatecholic Phenylethylamines, Part I. New York, Marcel Dekker, 1978:447-74.

9. Fischer E, Spatz H, Saavedra JM, et al. Urinary elimination of phenethylamine. Biol Psychiatry 5:139-47, 1972; Mann J, Peselow ED, Snyderm,an S, Gersohn S. D-phenylalanine in endogenous depression. Am J Psychiatry 137(12):12, 1980.

10. Beckmann H. Phenylalanine in affective disorders. Adv Biol Psychiatry 10:137-47, 1983

11. Yaryura-Tobias JA, Neziroglu F. Phenylethylamine and glucose in true depression. Orthomol Psychiatry 5(3):199-202, 1976.

12. Yaryura-Tobias JA, Heller B, Spatz H, Fischer E. Phenylalanine for endogenous depression. J Orthomol Psychiatry 3(2):80-1, 1974.

13. Mann J, Peselow ED, Snyderman S, Gersohon S. D-phenylalanine in endogenous depression. Am J Psychiatry 137(12):1611-12, 1980.

14. Braverman ER. The Healing Nutrients Within. New Canaan CT, Keats Publishing, 1987:37

15. Beckmann H, Athen D, Oheanu M, Zimmer R. DL-phenylalanine versus imipramine: A double-blind controlled study. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 227:49-58, 1979.

16. Heller B. Pharmacological and clinical effects of d-phenylalanine in depression and Parkinson’s disease, in AD Mosnaim & ME Wolf, Eds. Noncatecholic Phenylethylamines, Part 1. New York, Marcel Dekker, 1978:397-417.