Reply #26: regarding L-tryptophan

[eShirl]

"Several years ago L-Tryptophan (an amino acid I believe) was widely touted as helping with sleep disorders and depression. However, after some people died while taking, it was found to have a toxic effect on blood, people died because of too much of this 'natural supplementing their blood."

Actually the problem with L-tryptophan was that it was being contaminated during the manufacturing process in one or some (but certainly not all) manufacturing facilities. Now it is available only by prescription, apparently to ensure it comes frm an uncontaminated source. (In fact, one can now buy an OTC product, 5-HTP, which is actually one step closer to seratonin than L-tryptophan.)