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Dieting reduces plasma tryptophan and alters brain 5-HT function in women

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

I. M. Anderson ,
M. Parry-Billings ,
E. A. Newsholme ,
C. G. Fairburn  and
P. J. Cowen
I. M. Anderson
Affiliation:
University of Oxford Departments of Biochemistry and Psychiatry and the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
M. Parry-Billings
Affiliation:
University of Oxford Departments of Biochemistry and Psychiatry and the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
E. A. Newsholme
Affiliation:
University of Oxford Departments of Biochemistry and Psychiatry and the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
C. G. Fairburn
Affiliation:
University of Oxford Departments of Biochemistry and Psychiatry and the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
P. J. Cowen*
Affiliation:
University of Oxford Departments of Biochemistry and Psychiatry and the MRC Clinical Pharmacology Research Unit, Littlemore Hospital, Oxford
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr P. J. Cowen, Research Unit. Littlemore Hospital, Oxford OX4 4XN.
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Synopsis

A three week low calorie diet significantly reduced both total plasma tryptophan and the ratio of tryptophan to competing amino acids in a group of 15 healthy volunteers. Despite a similar percentage weight loss the reduction in plasma tryptophan was greater in women than men. In addition, only in women was dieting associated with increased prolactin secretion following intravenous tryptophan, a measure of brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) function. These results suggest that dieting reduces the availability of circulating tryptophan for brain 5-HT synthesis. Women appear more vulnerable than men both to this effect and to its consequences for brain 5-HT function. Altered brain 5-HT function may play a part in some of the psychological consequences of dieting, including the development of clinical eating disorders.

Type
Orginal Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , November 1990 , pp. 785 - 791
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1990

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References

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