Tyrosine – What Can This Dietary Amino Acid Do?

Dear blog readers,
many of you are surely familiar with the nonessential amino acid tyrosine, but you may not realize the wide-ranging benefits that supplementation can offer.

Yet tyrosine, as a precursor to DOPA, dopamine, catecholamines (e.g., norepinephrine and epinephrine), melanin, thyroxine, and tyramine, has a very broad spectrum of effects.

Its effect on the endogenous synthesis of these neurotransmitters and hormones is the main reason for tyrosine supplementation, which in practice ranges from drug treatment to improving concentration and mood to enhancing athletic performance.

This article focuses on the athletic aspect of tyrosine supplementation.

Tyrosine and Sports

Drive and Energy

Through the synthesis of stimulating neurotransmitters and hormones (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine), tyrosine puts the body in a state of heightened readiness for performance, which benefits not only mental (see below) but also physical (endurance training was studied) exertion, especially during sleep deprivation.

The combination of tyrosine and caffeine is particularly potent, as tyrosine also enhances and prolongs the stimulating (and performance-enhancing) effects of caffeine.

Thermogenesis and Fat Loss

A study also demonstrates that tyrosine and caffeine, in combination with capsaicin and catechins, produce a significant thermogenic effect lasting over four hours, which leads to increased calorie expenditure—a benefit for weight loss.

However, even when taken as a standalone supplement, tyrosine—as a precursor to the thyroid hormones thyroxine and tyramine—plays a key role in effective fat loss.

Furthermore, tyrosine also has appetite-suppressing and mood-enhancing properties, which further support the ability to stick to a diet and achieve long-term fat loss.

Concentration and Mental Focus

A number of studies and publications demonstrate that tyrosine improves willpower, assertiveness, alertness, and the ability to concentrate—all of which are highly beneficial for maintaining goal-oriented mental focus during training and are also reported by many athletes.

Conclusion

Tyrosine is a highly interesting amino acid that, when taken as a supplement, can make a significant contribution to achieving peak performance.

The combination of tyrosine and caffeine is particularly potent; it has a synergistic effect and therefore forms the basis of effective workout boosters or fat burners.

Even outside of sports, tyrosine is beneficial whenever its concentration-enhancing and mood-boosting properties are desired.

With athletic regards
, Your Peak Team

Sources

Belza, A., et al. – Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis through a combination of bioactive food ingredients: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects. International Journal of Obesity. 2006.
Braverman, Eric R. – The Healing Nutrients Within. Keats Publishing, New Canaan, Connecticut, USA. 1997:65–66.
Erdmann, Robert & Jones, Meirion. – The Amino Revolution. Century Hutchinson. London, United Kingdom. 1987:119.
Firshein, R. – The Nutraceutical Revolution. Riverhead Books via Penguin Putnam Inc., New York, USA. 1998:200.
Grevet, E. H., et al. – Behavioral effects of acute phenylalanine and tyrosine depletion in healthy male volunteers. J Psychopharmacol. 16(1):51–55, 2002.
Harris, A., et al. – Effect of L-tyrosine and exercise on eating behavior. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 1983.
Magill, R. A., et al. – Effects of tyrosine, phentermine, caffeine, D-amphetamine, and placebo on cognitive and motor performance deficits during sleep deprivation. Nutr Neurosci. 6(4):237–246, 2003. Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Neri, D. F., et al. – The effects of tyrosine on cognitive performance during extended wakefulness. *Aviat Space Environ Med.* 66(4):313–319, 1995.
Owasoyo, J. O., et al. – Tyrosine and its potential use as a countermeasure to performance decline in sustained military operations. Aviat Space Environ Med. 63(5):364-369, 1992.
Reeves, P. G., et al. – The effect of dietary tyrosine levels on food intake in zinc-deficient rats. Journal of Nutrition. 114(4):761-767, 1984.