Supplements The Health Benefits of Tyrosine Can this amino acid boost energy, memory, and fat burn? By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Richard Fogoros, MD on October 07, 2019 Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified internal medicine physician and cardiologist. He is Verywell's Senior Medical Advisor. Learn about our Review Board Richard Fogoros, MD Updated on February 03, 2020 Print Tyrosine is an amino acid the body produces from phenylalanine (another type of amino acid). Found in a number of foods including meat, fish, eggs, dairy, eggs, nuts, legumes, and oats, tyrosine is available in dietary supplement form as well. Tyrosine is essential to your body's production of melanin (a type of pigment) and several key brain chemicals including dopamine and norepinephrine. It also plays an important role in the function of the adrenal, thyroid, and pituitary glands, which are involved in producing and regulating your hormones. Tyrosine is also commonly known as L-Tyrosine and N-acetyl L-tyrosine (NALT). Illustration by JR Bee, Verywell Uses One of the most common uses of tyrosine supplements is the treatment of a genetic disorder known as phenylketonuria. In people with phenylketonuria, the body is unable to process phenylalanine properly and, as a result, cannot produce the tyrosine it needs to function. In alternative medicine, tyrosine supplements are often touted as a natural remedy for a range of health problems, including: Alzheimer's diseaseAttention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChronic fatigue syndromeDepressionHeart diseaseParkinson's diseasePremenstrual syndromeStressStroke Some alternative medicine proponents claim that tyrosine supplements can also help suppress appetite, promote weight loss, increase mental alertness, improve memory, and enhance athletic performance. Health Benefits Although relatively few studies have tested the effects of taking tyrosine supplements, there's some evidence that tyrosine may offer certain health benefits. Here's a look at several key findings from the available research: Phenylketonuria For a report published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2013, investigators analyzed the available clinical trials on the use of tyrosine supplements in people with phenylketonuria. Looking at data from six clinical trials with a total of 56 phenylketonuria patients, the report's authors found that blood levels of tyrosine were significantly higher in participants receiving tyrosine supplements compared to those given a placebo. However, the authors note that more studies are needed before tyrosine supplements can be recommended for the treatment of phenylketonuria. Brain Function Some studies show the use of tyrosine supplements may boost brain function under certain conditions. A 2010 study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition found that tyrosine supplementation led to significantly greater improvements in focus and alertness after exhaustive exercise. The study included 19 healthy college students, each of whom was given either a tyrosine supplement or a placebo for a four-week period. In addition, a 2007 study of 19 people published in Physiology & Behavior found that use of tyrosine supplements helped protect against the detrimental effects of severe cold exposure on cognitive performance and memory. Exercise Performance So far, studies examining tyrosine's effects on exercise performance have yielded mixed results. In a 2011 study from the European Journal of Applied Physiology, for example, tests on eight healthy male volunteers found that consumption of a tyrosine-enriched drink helped increase endurance while exercising in the heat. However, a 2016 study published in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that tyrosine supplementation failed to protect against exhaustion while exercising in a warm environment. More research is needed before tyrosine supplements can be recommended for enhanced exercise performance. Possible Side Effects Side effects of tyrosine include nausea, heartburn, headache, joint pain, or feeling tired. Though rare, allergic reactions may occur, including hives, difficulty breathing, and tingling and swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. Seek medical attention if an allergic reaction occurs. People with hyperthyroidism or Graves disease should not take tyrosine without doctor supervisions, as the body uses tyrosine to make thyroxine, a thyroid hormone. Interactions Tyrosine may interact with the following medications. Speak to your doctor before supplementing if you are taking: MAOI inhibitors, such as the depression medications rasagiline (Azilect), selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar), isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (ParnateLevodopa, a Parkinson's drugThyroid replacements, such as Synthroid, Levothroid, or other thyroid hormones It's important to keep in mind that supplements haven't been tested for safety and dietary supplements are largely unregulated. In some cases, the product may deliver doses that differ from the specified amount for each herb. In other cases, the product may be contaminated with other substances such as metals. Also, the safety of supplements in pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and those with medical conditions or who are taking medications has not been established. Dosage and Preparation There is no recommended daily allowance for tyrosine. In research, the following doses have been studied: Phenylketonuria: 4 grams to 6 grams a day in food and medical food, or 6 grams to 7.6 grams in pregnant and nursing women, take under doctor supervisions.Alertness: 150 mg per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) split into two doses following the loss of sleep.Memory: 150 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg taken prior to a memory taskMental Performance: 100 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg taken prior to a stressful mental task. What to Look For When selecting a brand of supplements, look for products that have been certified by Consumer Labs, The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention, or NSF International. Other Questions Can tyrosine help me lose weight? There is no clinical research to show that supplementing with tyrosine can promote weight loss. In theory, it may speed metabolism because it is a precursor to epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine, which is why is it sometimes included in weight-loss supplements. Does tyrosine cause insomnia? Tyrosine can be stimulating, especially when used in large amounts, and may boost energy. It should not be taken in the evening as it may interfere with sleep. A Word From Verywell Due to the limited research, it's too soon to recommend tyrosine for any condition. It's also important to note that self-treating a condition and avoiding or delaying standard care may have serious consequences. If you're considering using tyrosine for any health purpose, make sure to consult your physician first. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get nutrition tips and advice to make healthy eating easier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. 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 Additional Reading 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.