色氨酸是一种必需氨基酸,正常时是作为膳食蛋白质的一种组成成分而被摄取。它曾被用于治疗失眠和经前综合征。由于它可被代谢成为5-羟色胺,曾被用于治疗诸如强迫观念和行为以及抑郁症等一类精神病。由于发生了与色氨酸相关的嗜酸粒细胞增多和全身症状的散发病例,1989年11月美国食品药品管理局发出通知要小心应用色氨酸。不久之后,流行病学证据表明色氨酸会引起严重的副作用。早期的报告提出,这是由于色氨酸在生产加工过程中混入了一种污染物而造成的,但未得到研究的证实。 Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is normally taken as a component of dietary protein. It has been used to treat insomnia and premenstrual syndrome. Since it can be metabolized to serotonin, it has been used to treat a class of psychoses such as obsessions and behaviors and depression. Due to the presence of tryptophan-related eosinophilia and systemic etiology, the FDA issued a circular in November 1989 that caution should be applied to tryptophan. Shortly thereafter, epidemiological evidence suggests that tryptophan causes serious side effects. Earlier reports suggested that this was due to the incorporation of tryptophan into a contaminant during the manufacturing process, but this has not been confirmed by research.