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- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
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Can You Take L-Tyrosine and Caffeine Together?
More than 50 percent of adults in the United States use some form of dietary supplement, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine 3. Amino acids are considered dietary supplements. L-tyrosine is an animo acid, often taken as a supplement to help manage stress and improve athletic performance. Some of its side effects include anxiety and restlessness. Combining L-tyrosine supplementation with caffeine may increase these effects, and you may want to discuss the combination with your doctor before taking them together.
Tyrosine
Your body is able to manufacture its own tyrosine from the metabolism of phenylalanine, making it a nonessential amino acid. Tyrosine is necessary for the synthesis of brain neurotransmitters epinephrine, norepinephrine and dopamine. These neurotransmitters are important for nerve communication, and they affect your mood. Tyrosine is also an important component of melanin, a pigment found in your hair and skin. It is very rare to see an individual with low tyrosine levels, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
- Your body is able to manufacture its own tyrosine from the metabolism of phenylalanine, making it a nonessential amino acid.
- Tyrosine is also an important component of melanin, a pigment found in your hair and skin.
Tyrosine Supplementation
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Tyrosine supplementation is necessary if you have the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria, also known as PKU. If you have PKU you must avoid phenylalanine in your diet, and without it you cannot produce tyrosine on your own and must use supplements to meet your needs. Tyrosine supplements are also used to help improve memory during periods of psychological stress, but research to support this use is limited. Athletes also take tyrosine supplements to help improve their performance, but research does not support the benefits of this use.
- Tyrosine supplementation is necessary if you have the metabolic disorder phenylketonuria, also known as PKU.
- Athletes also take tyrosine supplements to help improve their performance, but research does not support the benefits of this use.
Caffeine
Caffeine is a chemical found in foods such as coffee, cola and some teas. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and can help improve fatigue and drowsiness. In moderate amounts, consumption of caffeine is considered safe, according to MedlinePlus 2. A moderate amount of caffeine is about 250 milligrams a day, or about the amount in three 8-ounce cups of coffee 2. Caffeine is not for everybody, and it can cause side effects if you are sensitive to it or your excessive amounts. Side effects include a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, difficulty sleeping and restlessness.
- Caffeine is a chemical found in foods such as coffee, cola and some teas.
- Caffeine is not for everybody, and it can cause side effects if you are sensitive to it or your excessive amounts.
Tyrosine and Caffeine
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Tyrosine supplementation also causes side effects, including restlessness, anxiety and insomnia. It can also cause a rapid heartbeat if you take it in large doses. Taking tyrosine and caffeine together may exacerbate these symptoms, and you should take caution when combining the two.
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References
- Ray Sahelian, M.D.: Tyrosine
- MedlinePlus: Caffeine in the Diet
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Using Dietary Supplements Wisely
- Gardner CD, Hartle JC, Garrett RD, Offringa LC, Wasserman AS. Maximizing the intersection of human health and the health of the environment with regard to the amount and type of protein produced and consumed in the United States. Nutr Rev. 2019;77(4):197–215. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuy073
- Webster D, Wildgoose J. Tyrosine supplementation for phenylketonuria. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(6):CD001507.
- Campbell B, Wilborn C, La Bounty P, et al. International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: energy drinks. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2013;10(1):1. Published 2013 Jan 3. doi:10.1186/1550-2783-10-1
- Mahoney CR, Castellani J, Kramer FM, Young A, Lieberman HR. Tyrosine supplementation mitigates working memory decrements during cold exposure. Physiol Behav. 2007;92(4):575-82. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.05.003
- Avraham Y, Hao S, Mendelson S, Berry EM. Tyrosine improves appetite, cognition, and exercise tolerance in activity anorexia. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;33(12):2104-10. PMID: 11740306
- Martinez N, Campbell B, Franek M, Buchanan L, Colquhoun R. The effect of acute pre-workout supplementation on power and strength performance. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2016;13:29. Published 2016 Jul 16. doi:10.1186/s12970-016-0138-7
- DeGroot LJ. Diagnosis and Treatment of Graves' Disease. Endotext [Internet]. . Published November 2, 2016.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Using Dietary Supplements Wisely. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. Published January 15, 2019.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Published July 1, 2013.
- Belza A, Frandsen E, Kondrup J. Body fat loss achieved by stimulation of thermogenesis by a combination of bioactive food ingredients: a placebo-controlled, double-blind 8-week intervention in obese subjects. Int J Obes (Lond). 2007;31(1):121-30. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803351
- Hoffman JR, Ratamess NA, Gonzalez A, et al. The effects of acute and prolonged CRAM supplementation on reaction time and subjective measures of focus and alertness in healthy college students. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2010;7:39. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-7-39
- Tumilty L, Davison G, Beckmann M, Thatcher R. Oral tyrosine supplementation improves exercise capacity in the heat. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011;111(12):2941-50. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1921-4
- University of Michigan. L-Tyrosine for Weight Control. https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-3927007
- Watson P, Enever S, Page A, et al. Tyrosine supplementation does not influence the capacity to perform prolonged exercise in a warm environment. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2012;22(5):363-73.
Writer Bio
Jill Corleone is a registered dietitian and health coach who has been writing and lecturing on diet and health for more than 15 years. Her work has been featured on the Huffington Post, Diabetes Self-Management and in the book "Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation," edited by John R. Bach, M.D. Corleone holds a Bachelor of Science in nutrition.