Posted by BarbaraCat on May 16, 2004, at 18:42:27
In reply to Re: can I take tryptophan at same time as gaba? » BarbaraCat, posted by LOOPS on May 14, 2004, at 19:04:44
Hello Loops,
> Presumably I should take the Taurine at a different time from the tryptophan, or does this again work on a different pathway?
**I think it's OK. I don't think aminos compete with each other. As far as pathways, GABA and serotonin are different neurotransmitter systems and I don't think that their precursors directly complete against each other. However, tweaking one system to excess can have impact upon the other neurotransmitters, i.e., serotonin has an inverse effect on dopamine levels.
**However as I am vegan and a woman I think Taurine would be a very good adjunct (apparently estrogen depletes Taurine, and although Taurine can be made from methionine and cysteine, additional taurine is available in meat which I don't get).
**I didn't know that about estrogen depleting Taurine!! That's good info. I wonder if SAM-e would help here since it is a methionine precursor. I eat very few animal products as well. Getting enough protein is a big challenge cause I can't do soy or whey, but I recently discovered hemp protein powder from www.livingharvest.com and like it alot.
>
> Is Taurine good to take before bed - will it add to the deeper sleep I get from inositol/mag/tryptophan/gaba??
>
**I don't notice it having a tranquilizing or sedating effect but more like an electrical smoothing effect. It is an inhibitory amino acid so I'd guess it would add to the calming effects of the others.I only take straight taurine when I'm having more anxiety and then take 500 mg morning and night. I have NO idea if this is enough or the best dosing times. I take my daily magnesium as Mg taurate and like this form of Mg better than the others and figure I'm getting the taurine benefits as well.
>>By the way, regarding brands, I have noticed a difference between the NOW niacinamide and the Solgar - the NOW brand gave me a bit of a headache, which went away when I started the Solgar. Odd huh?
**Thanks! Y'know, I take a few NOW brand supplements but had an odd wondering about their quality a little while ago. Kind of a gut feeling.
>
> Thanks - you seem very knowledgeable about all of this!**Likewise! As far as the amino info, however, I have many questions about them and want to understand alot more. There are so many conflicting reports on when, how much, what they do, etc. So I guess it comes down to reading up and seeing how they affect us indivudually. I'd love a clinic workup and protocol from the Pfeiffer Institute. They're the leaders in the U.S. on treating mood disorders with amino acids and nutritionals.
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:319971
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040418/msgs/347520.html