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Article: Aggressive behavior and L-tryptophan.(Nutritional Influences on Illness)(Clinical report)
- Article from:
- Townsend Letter
- Article date:
- February 1, 2009
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 The Townsend Letter Group. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Serotonin, a major neurotransmitter, has been found to play an important role in modulating aggressive behavior. Impulsive, violent, and suicidal behaviors have repeatedly been shown to be associated with a reduction in serotonergic activity in the central nervous system. (1)
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Alcohol ingestion, which is well known to magnify the potential for aggression, (2) appears to transiently increase brain serotonin turnover. (3) While initially this effect would improve mood, it results in further serotonin depletion, thereby promoting aggressive behavior.
Tryptophan is the dietary precursor of serotonin, and the combination of ...