Summary
Twelve MS patients were treated with L-tryptophan with or without decarboxylase inhibitor for 30 days, and the daily dose was either 1.5 g or 8 g. Tryptophan, 5-HIAA and HVA were analysed from lumbar punctures before and during tryptophan treatment. Clinical evaluation of MS symptoms was performed before, during and at the end of the tryptophan treatment period as well as after a 30-day placebo period. Tryptophan and 5-HIAA levels were found to be elevated 10 hours after the last dose of L-tryptophan. HVA concentrations remained approximately constant. A slight alleviation of changeable MS symptoms was noticed during the first month. The best response was found in symptoms like motility and bladder disturbances as well as in the mood of patients. These findings are indicative of the neural transmission changes during the rapid functional disturbances in MS.
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Hyyppä, M.T., Jolma, T., Riekkinen, P. et al. Effects of L-tryptophan treatment on central indoleamine metabolism and short-lasting neurologic disturbances in multiple sclerosis. J. Neural Transmission 37, 297–304 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01258656
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01258656