Amino Acid Supplementation as Therapy for Attention Deficit Disorder

A double-blind study compared the effects on 14 children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) with hyperactivity of 1-week trials of each of the following: tyrosine 140 mg/kg/day, tryptophan 100 mg/kg/day, d-amphetamine 5 mg or 10 mg/day, and placebo. Parent and teacher ratings and measures of attention were obtained at baseline and at the end of each condition. Tyrosine was not significantly different from placebo on any of the variables measured. Tryptophan, while not significantly different from placebo on teachers ratings, was significantly better by parents ratings. This suggests that tryptophan may have some benefit in selected cases of ADD, primarily with home behavior problems.