L Phenylalanine & Weight Loss

The use of L-Phenylalanine as a dietary supplement to produce significant weight loss has become common because of the ability of L-Phenylalanine to communicate with the brain and create the feeling of satiation. In addition to its weight-loss effects, L-Phenylalanine is known to have many other positive health benefits but there are safety considerations that make L-Phenylalanine potentially dangerous to certain people with various medical conditions.

Identification

• L-Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid that is known to aid in losing weight because of its ability to send hormonal messages to the brain telling it that the stomach is full. L-Phenylalanine cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained through food ingestion. It is found in most foods that contain protein such as beef, turkey and fish.

Benefits

• Aside from its ability to taken as a weight-loss supplement, L-Phenylalanine is used to treat a number of different conditions such as chronic pain, Parkinson's disease, Vitiligo and depression. It is available topically or in powder, tablet or capsule form. If taken 15-30 minutes before meals, L-Phenylalanine can significantly reduce the number of calories ingested by creating a feeling of satiation.

Effects on Weight Loss and Wellness

• Because of its ability to control appetite, L-Phenylalanine has been shown in clinical studies to help reduce weight by burning fat and maintaining muscle when combined with moderate to light levels of exercise such as walking. As an essential amino acid that cannot be produced by the body, L-Phenylalanine supplementation may be necessary for proper brain function and general feelings of wellness.

Function

• The actual functions of L-Phenylalanine within the human body are numerous. The body converts L-Phenylalanine into Tyrosine, which is an essential amino acid necessary for protein synthesis, thyroid function, and the creation of brain chemicals such as dopamine and norepinephrine. The University of Maryland Medical Center lists several symptoms of phenylalanine deficiency including "confusion, lack of energy, depression, decreased alertness, decreased memory, and diminished appetite."

Safety Considerations

• The safety of using L-Phenylalanine over the long-term is unknown. It cannot be taken by those with rare metabolic diseases like Phenylketonuria (PKU). Combining L-Phenylalanine with anti-psychotic drugs may produce long-term side effects as well. Usage by children, pregnant women or those with various metabolic diseases is not recommended because safe dosage guidelines have not yet been established with any real consensus.