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Effects of a novel method of acute tryptophan depletion on plasma tryptophan and cognitive performance in healthy volunteers

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Abstract

Rationale

Disorders associated with low levels of serotonin (5-HT) are characterized by mood and cognitive disturbances. Acute tryptophan depletion (ATD) is an established method for lowering 5-HT levels and an important tool to study the effects of reduced 5-HT on mood and cognition in human subjects. The traditional ATD method, i.e., administration of separate amino acids (AAs), has several disadvantages. The AA mixture is costly, unpalatable and associated with gastrointestinal discomfort.

Objectives

The University of Maastricht developed a new and inexpensive method for ATD: a natural collagen protein (CP) mixture with low tryptophan (TRP) content. The reductions in plasma TRP after taking this CP mixture were compared with the reductions achieved taking the traditional AA mixture, and effects on memory and reversal learning were studied.

Methods

Fifteen healthy young volunteers participated in a double-blind, counterbalanced within-subject study. Reversal learning, verbal memory and pattern recognition were assessed at baseline and 3–4 h after taking the CP mixture.

Results

The new ATD method significantly reduced plasma TRP by 74% and the ratio between TRP and the other large AAs (TRP/LNAA) by 82%. The placebo mixture did not change these measures. Delayed recognition reaction time on the verbal learning task was increased following ATD. No other cognitive effects were found.

Conclusions

The CP mixture was shown to be an efficient tool for lowering plasma TRP in humans. The validity of this method with regard to behavioral changes remains to be established in healthy, vulnerable and clinical populations.

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Acknowledgment

E. A. T. Evers, F. M. van der Veen and J. Jolles are funded by the ZonMW grant 912-02-050.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology (DRT10), Brain and Behavior Institute, Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, Maastricht, 6200, The Netherlands

    E. A. T. Evers, D. E. Tillie, F. M. van der Veen, C. K. Lieben, J. Jolles & J. A. J. Schmitt

  2. Department of Surgery, Maastricht University, Maastricht, 6200, The Netherlands

    N. E. P. Deutz

Authors
  1. E. A. T. Evers
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  2. D. E. Tillie
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  3. F. M. van der Veen
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  4. C. K. Lieben
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  5. J. Jolles
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  6. N. E. P. Deutz
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  7. J. A. J. Schmitt
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Correspondence to E. A. T. Evers.

Additional information

This article was originally published under the DOI 10.1007/s00213-004-1933-4. Unfortunately an unrelated paper appeared in print and in the PDF version online. For this reason, all versions of the correct article are now published here under the new DOI, 10.1007/s00213-004-2141-y.

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Evers, E.A.T., Tillie, D.E., van der Veen, F.M. et al. Effects of a novel method of acute tryptophan depletion on plasma tryptophan and cognitive performance in healthy volunteers. Psychopharmacology 178, 92–99 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2141-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-004-2141-y

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