{
  "slug": "tryptophan",
  "name": "L-Tryptophan",
  "alternate_names": [
    "Tryptophan",
    "L-Trp",
    "TRP"
  ],
  "mechanism": [
    "De novo NAD+ via kynurenine pathway (60 mg Trp -> 1 mg niacin equivalent)",
    "Serotonin precursor",
    "Melatonin precursor"
  ],
  "target": [
    "NAD+ pool (kynurenine route)",
    "Serotonin synthesis",
    "Melatonin synthesis",
    "TDO/IDO enzymes"
  ],
  "use_case": [
    "mood support (educational · evidence mixed)",
    "sleep support",
    "NAD+ alternate precursor"
  ],
  "body_system": [
    "CNS",
    "METABOLISM"
  ],
  "evidence_tier": "C",
  "evidence_anchor_pmid_count": 2,
  "evidence_anchors": [
    {
      "pmid": "29940237",
      "title": "Role of Kynurenine Pathway and its Metabolites in Mood Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies",
      "authors": [
        "Arnone D"
      ],
      "year": "2018",
      "journal": "Neurosci Biobehav Rev",
      "pub_type": "Meta-analysis",
      "outcome_tag": "review",
      "role_note": "SR+MA kynurenine pathway dysregulation in mood disorders (not tryptophan supplementation directly · documents pathway alterations in depression) · verified 2026-06-07 · PMCID PMC6686193"
    },
    {
      "pmid": "32853625",
      "title": "Effect of immune activation on the kynurenine pathway and depression symptoms - A systematic review and meta-analysis",
      "authors": [
        "Hunt C"
      ],
      "year": "2020",
      "journal": "Neurosci Biobehav Rev",
      "pub_type": "Meta-analysis",
      "outcome_tag": "review",
      "role_note": "SR+MA immune activation kynurenine pathway depression symptoms (not direct tryptophan intervention) · verified 2026-06-07 · PMCID PMC8087452"
    }
  ],
  "dosage_range": "5 mg/kg/day RDA · 500-2000 mg/day mood/sleep (caution SSRI interaction · Tier C · Arnone 2018 PMID 29940237 kynurenine pathway mood SR+MA)",
  "safety_notes": "Drug interaction with SSRI/MAOI (serotonin syndrome risk) · pregnancy generally safe at RDA · 1989 EMS outbreak associated with contaminated supplement (not pure tryptophan)",
  "regulatory": {
    "fda": "GRAS (amino acid food ingredient · post-1995 reinstatement)",
    "efsa": "Reg 432/2012 rejected mood claims 2010 · no authorized health claim",
    "anvisa": "RDC 243/2018 dietary supplement framework · IN 28/2018 no Anexo V claim"
  },
  "ingredient_hub_url": "https://asxan.ai/ingredients/tryptophan/",
  "related_goal_slugs": [
    "cognitive-support"
  ],
  "related_lifestyle_slugs": [
    "high-stress"
  ],
  "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-08",
  "schema_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "api_version": "nc-public-v0.3",
  "_meta": {
    "last_evidence_review": "2026-06-08",
    "ip_axes_disclosed": {
      "public_axes": [
        "mechanism",
        "target",
        "use_case",
        "body_system",
        "evidence_tier",
        "dosage_range",
        "safety_notes",
        "regulatory",
        "authorized_claims"
      ],
      "ip_axes_not_exposed": [
        "proprietary_formula_ratios",
        "clinical_protocol_internals",
        "rnd_pipeline_compounds",
        "supplier_specific_grade_specifications",
        "unpublished_endpoint_data"
      ],
      "rationale": "asxan.ai surfaces the educational, evidence-tier-disclosed slice. Formula composition, clinical-protocol internals, and RnD pipeline data are intentionally outside this public surface."
    }
  }
}