In a study done by Heraief, Burckhardt, Wurtman and Wurtman, (1985), they examined the ability of tryptophan (TRP), serotonin's amino acid precursor, or a placebo to influence weight loss among 62 obese Swiss outpatients who were on a reducing diet known as the Protein-Sparing Modified Fast (PSMF) Diet which is often associated with severe carbohydrate craving. This diet provided relatively large amounts of protein but little carbohydrates, thus stimulating ketone body production. Its consumption also reduced the ratio of plasma TRP to the summed concentrations of the other large neutral amino acids, thereby probably diminishing brain TRP and serotonin levels. It was found that among moderately obese patients the TRP significantly enhanced weight loss, especially during the first treatment month but also during the total. The TRP didn't modify the reported adherence to the PSMF diet. The partial effectiveness of TRP among the moderately obese subjects did not justify its routine use as an adjunct to a PSMF diet. However, greater efficacy may be obtained with better patient selection and under metabolic conditions designed to amplify the uptake of TRP into the brain.
There is a wide-ranging consensus that the most critical factor in weight management is total energy intake. However the ideal balance of macronutrients for weight loss and adult weight management remains widely disputed. Often this debate center son the relative merits or risks of carbohydrates vs. lipids. When the energy amount of the diet is equal, the relative levels of carbohydrates and lipids in the diet appear to have minimal affect on either weight loss or body composition. There is a growing amount of evidence that diets with reduced levels of carbohydrates and higher levels of protein may be beneficial for weight loss. These studies have shown that diets with reduced carbohydrates and higher protein appear to increase weight loss, increase loss of body fat, or reduce loss of lean body mass. While there are potential benefits for higher protein diets during weight loss, a metabolic explanation for optimal levels of carbohydrates and proteins remains unknown (Layman and Baum, 2004).
Potential explanations for the beneficial effects of diets with higher protein and reduced levels of carbohydrates include lower energy intake associated with increased satiety, reduced energy efficiency or increased thermogenesis, sparing of muscle protein loss, and enhanced glycemic control. In a study done by Layman and Baum, (2004), their research focused on the role of amino acids in regulation of muscle protein metabolism and glycemic control. The role of protein in the diet is to make available the 20 naturally occurring amino acids and specifically to provide the 9 crucial amino acids. Each of these amino acids has a distinctive requirement as a building block for body proteins. Nonetheless, the dietary requirement is not tightly linked to substrate needs for protein synthesis. This study found that one cause for the lack of a direct relationship is the recycling of amino acids after degradation of existing proteins and Amino acids are efficiently reutilized for synthesis of new proteins
Plasma 42-amino-acid amyloid-? (a?42) levels appear to associate with BMI, according to a study done by Yong-Ho, Martin, Maple, Tharp and Pratley, (2009). They recently showed that adipocyte amyloid precursor protein (APP) expression is up regulated in obesity and correlates with insulin resistance and adipose tissue inflammation. In this study, they aimed to investigate the relation between adipocyte APP expression and plasma a? peptide levels. They carried out a pilot study in which we measured adipocyte APP gene expression and the circulating plasma levels of a?40 in 10 obese individuals before and after a 6-month behaviorally-based weight loss intervention. Subjects were given an oral glucose tolerance test with measurement of insulin levels, a?40 levels measured by ELISA and transcript levels of APP in subcutaneous abdominal adipocytes measured by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that at baseline, adipocyte APP expression correlated significantly with plasma a?40 levels and with 2-hour insulin concentrations. After the 6-month weight loss intervention, body weight and BMI decreased significantly (Yong-Ho, Martin, Maple, Tharp and Pratley, 2009).
In order to test the effect on satiety of a formulation comprising plant extracts that naturally containing 5-hydroxytryptophan, Rondanelli, Klersy, Iadarola, Monteferrario and Opizzi,( 2009), conducted a study in which they delivered a sublingual spray (5HTP-Nat Exts), administered five times a day for 2 months. This study looked at bioavailability of 5-hydroxytryptophan following sublingual delivery over 8 weeks, by comparing...
Biopsychology Nature and nature psychology explains the behavior of man and the origin of individual differences and their personalities. Nature and nature theories explain the origin of individual differences and type development of personality. In the history of developmental psychology, heredity- environment issue has been identified as the central touchstone of theoretical differences between nature and nurture. Darwin's theory of evolution has impact on notions of human origin and their abilities.
They have small heads, prominent cheek and jaw bones, widely spaced teeth, and poor tooth enamel. However, every state now screens the phenylalanine level of newborns at 3 days of age. If an infant has PKU, dietary sources of the amino acid are lessened or eliminated. High protein foods such as meat, fish, chicken, eggs, cheese, milk, and peas are avoided. Cereals, starches, fruits and vegetables, along with phenylanine-free
classical conditioning by Pavlov and its current use in treating anxiety The paper focuses on the development of classical conditioning being used, as suggested by Pavlov, in treating anxiety through using fear-induced techniques. The paper talks about the past experiments that were done on animals and human, those who were suffering from anxiety and those who weren't, and highlights how anxiety is treated through fear induced conditioning. Combination of neutral stimulus
Fluoxetine (Prozac) Since its approval for use in the United States by the FDA in 1987, fluoxetine (commonly known as Prozac) has been the subject of great debate. Fluoxetine, now available in generic form, has been proven useful in the treatment of depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, some eating disorders, panic disorder, insomnia, migraines, schizophrenia, and more (Schmetzer, 2002). However, this drug does have a range of possible side effects including sexual
145)." When the drug impersonates the brain's natural stimuli, causing it to release dopamine, the brain - as is the case with methamphetamine use - will eventually recognize what is happening, in a sense, and will respond to the artificial stimuli by shutting down its dopamine releasing mechanisms (Ling, 2006, documentary film). The Grips of Addiction Like Mark's mice, the drug addict will always have a response to the precipitators in their
In conclusion, much academic attention has been spent on the role of serotonin deficiency and its role in depression and other mood disorders. There has been increasing attention on developing SSRIs that are target-specific in an attempt to reduce unwanted side effects. However, as we have seen too much serotonin many have lasting effects on the brain and contribute to elderly dementia, or permanent damage to the hippocampus. It appears that
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