DL-Phenylalanine
DL-Phenylalanine (DLPA) is a supplement that contains both the natural L-phenylalanine and the synthetic D-phenylalanine forms of the amino acid phenylalanine. DLPA is used to boost energy, manage pain, balance mood, and more.
A study published in the Journal of Neural Transmission found that administering 75–200 milligrams of DL-phenylalanine per day to 20 people improved several symptoms of depression, including overall mood and agitation. Another study found that combining L-phenylalanine with L-deprenyl, a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease, improved mood and cognitive function in patients with Parkinson’s disease. DL-phenylalanine (75-200 mg/day for 20 days) resolved the symptoms of depression in 12 out of 20 patients. It offered mild to moderate benefits in four more patients, while it failed to affect the remaining four.
Clinical trials reported no significant DLPA side effects. Most people will benefit from taking anything from 1,000 to 2,000 mg per day. For best results, you should split the dosage into two or three smaller doses throughout the day. L-phenylalanine is commonly consumed in foods. L-phenylalanine, D-phenylalanine, and DL-phenylalanine are possibly safe when used as medicine, short-term.
Side effects might include anxiety, headache, and constipation. High quantities of DL-phenylalanine may cause mild side effects such as nausea, heartburn, and headaches. Doses higher than 5,000 mg a day may be toxic and can cause nerve damage.
Sources:
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/phenylalanine
- https://www.soma-analytics.com/dlpa-dl-phenylalanine/
- https://www.rxlist.com/phenylalanine/supplements.htm
- https://supplements.selfdecode.com/blog/dlpa-dl-phenylalanine/
- https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-653/phenylalanine
- https://draxe.com/nutrition/phenylalanine/
