Montgomery AJ, McTavish SF, Cowen PJ, Grasby PM Am J Psychiatry  2003 Oct;160(10):1887-9


Imperial College, School of Medicine, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, UK.

OBJECTIVE: Extracellular dopamine concentrations were estimated through measurement of [(11)C]raclopride binding with positron emission tomography after dietary manipulation of the dopamine precursors tyrosine and phenylalanine.

METHOD: Healthy male subjects were scanned on two occasions: once after receiving a balanced amino acid drink and once after receiving a drink mixture from which tyrosine and phenylalanine were omitted.

RESULTS: Dietary tyrosine and phenylalanine depletion increased [(11)C]raclopride binding in the striatum by a mean of 6%. The change in [(11)C]raclopride binding correlated significantly with the fall in the ratio of tyrosine and phenylalanine to large neutral amino acids.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first demonstration of an effect of a dietary manipulation on brain dopamine release in humans. This result provides support for the further investigation of the role of dietary manipulations in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Please Note

NOTICE!!! Please expect a 4-6 week delivery time.
We are sorry but we can offer no international Paypal orders. These must be made by Fax. Any inadvertent international Paypal orders placed will be refunded less $20 transaction fee.

P.O. Box 1357
Sparta, NC 28675
Phone: 336-793-6524
Fax: 336-372-1541
Email: sotousa@skybest.com

Shipping Charges

Shipping charges have increased by an incredible amount, and so shipping is order dependent. Please contact sotousa@skybest.com for more details.