Tryptophan and ascorbic acid for anxiety caused

by lead toxicity
By Trudy Scott, Food Mood Expert and Nutritionist,

author of The Antianxiety Food solution

!
Lead toxicity is a factor when it comes to anxiety, panic disorder, phobias and depression, even with low
levels of lead exposure.
This 2010 paper, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, Blood lead levels and major
depressive disorder, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder in U.S. young adults reports the
following:
In this sample of young adults with low levels of lead exposure, higher blood lead was associated
with increased odds of major depression and panic disorder. Exposure to lead at levels generally
considered safe could result in adverse mental health outcomes.
The paper discusses a possible mechanism of action i.e. lead disruption of neurotransmitter production
(of the catecholamines and serotonin):
If lead exposure contributes to the etiology of these disorders, the mechanism of action could
involve perturbation of neurochemistry, such as brain monoamine neurotransmission.
Lead exposure is known to disrupt catecholaminergic systems, and depression and anxiety
disorders are strongly associated with disturbances in these systems.
Studies in animals show that chronic lead exposure can decrease serotoninergic activity in several brain
regions including the nucleus accumbens, frontal cortex, and brainstem.

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Tryptophan and ascorbic acid for anxiety caused by lead toxicity © 2017 Trudy Scott All Rights Reserved
It is surprising that generalized anxiety disorder was not associated with increased lead levels in this
particular study, but other research does find anxiety correlations:
• bone lead (a biomarker of cumulative lead exposure) was associated with phobic anxiety and
depression among older women who are premenopausal or who consistently take
postmenopausal HRT
• blood lead concentrations were associated with increased risk of behavioral problems and
anxiety in Chinese preschool children
• bone and blood lead levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of phobic anxiety
in middle-aged to elderly men
Addressing lead and other heavy metal toxicity is not to be taken lightly and can often be quite a lengthy
process. Finding a knowledgeable practitioner who understands chelation is important.
The good news is that while you are working on lead detoxification with your knowledgeable
practitioner there is promising research (see below) that supports what I see in my clients: using the
amino acid tryptophan reduces and often completely eliminates anxiety, panic attacks and depression
while you are dealing with other underlying issues. In this instance the underlying cause is the lead
toxicity playing a role in low serotonin but it could also be Lyme disease or gluten sensitivity or
Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and many other conditions.
The animal study I’m referring to was published at University of Lagos paper in 2012:
Neurobehavioural and neurotoxic effects of L-ascorbic acid and L-tryptophan in lead exposed rats and
states that:
The sub-chronic exposure to lead decreased brain serotonin, while causing oxidative stress by
decreasing reduced glutathione levels, antioxidant enzyme activity and increasing lipid
peroxidation and brain protein contents.
Ascorbic acid attenuated [or reduced] both lead induced neuronal oxidative stress, and
abnormalities in behaviour.
Tryptophan ameliorated [or improved] lead-altered neurobehaviour [such as anxiety and
aggression].
Co-administration of ascorbic acid and tryptophan on lead exposed rats showed a reversal in all
indices assessed towards the physiological state of control. This suggests that ascorbic and
tryptophan can be used to compliment chelating therapy in lead neurotoxicity.
I don’t know if you can extrapolate the dosages from the rat to a human weight-wise but since I have a
curious mind I did some calculations: it turns out that they used a rough equivalent of 2000mg of
ascorbic acid and 1000mg of tryptophan for an adult human.
The starting dose for tryptophan is typically 500mg twice a day, and less if you’re sensitive or a “pixie
dust” person. I would start here and do an amino acid trial, increasing over a few weeks until anxiety
symptoms start to resolve. Before doing anything it’s important to determine if the low mood,
depression, anxiety, worry, insomnia and ruminations are because of low serotonin. Using the
questionnaire is the best place to start. Here is the Amino Acids Mood Questionnaire from The

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Tryptophan and ascorbic acid for anxiety caused by lead toxicity © 2017 Trudy Scott All Rights Reserved
Antianxiety Food Solution and additional information on Anxiety and targeted individual amino acid
supplements: a summary
It’s also important to read and follow these Amino Acid Precautions before using any of the amino acids.
The best way to figure out if you have a particular brain chemical imbalance and if you’ll benefit from a
certain amino acid, is to do a trial. This is something I do with all my clients with anxiety, when we’re
working one-one-one and with those in group programs, and it works really well.
Because the effects of amino acids can be felt within a few minutes to a few days, it’s easy to confirm
whether you do in fact have a deficiency in a certain area and whether you’ll benefit from
supplementing with the associated amino acid – tryptophan in this instance.
Here is information on how to do a trial.
Here are the supplements I use with my clients.
Have you used tryptophan to reduce or improve anxiety symptoms with success, while dealing with a
bigger underlying issue such as lead toxicity?
If you’re a practitioner, have you helped your clients/patients with tryptophan while dealing with lead
toxicity?

The above article was originally written as a blog post on August 19, 2016. Feel free to
comment and ask questions on the blog

There are also many articles on my blog on the topic of amino acids, as well as an entire
chapter in my book The Antianxiety Food Solution.

I continue to send out new case studies, new research and trouble-shooting scenarios via my
weekly newsletter so stay tuned for additional information.

We also have great discussions on facebook at TrudyScottAntianxietyFoodSolution

Come and join us!

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Tryptophan and ascorbic acid for anxiety caused by lead toxicity © 2017 Trudy Scott All Rights Reserved
 Food Mood Expert Trudy Scott is a certified nutritionist on a mission to
educate and empower anxious individuals worldwide about natural
solutions for anxiety, stress and emotional eating. She is passionate about
sharing the powerful food mood connection because she experienced the
results first-hand, finding complete resolution of her anxiety and panic
attacks.

Trudy is the author of The Antianxiety Food Solution: How the Foods You
Eat Can Help You Calm Your Anxious Mind, Improve Your Mood and
End Cravings, available in major books stores and via online stores like
! Amazon. You can find out more here.

“does an excellent job of explaining the science behind

anxiety and then bringing it to a practical level” - Elizabeth
Lipski, PhD, CCN, author of Digestive Wellness

“a real tour de force in complementary mental health

literature & refreshingly original” - Jonathan Prousky, ND,
author of Anxiety: Orthomolecular Diagnosis and
Treatment

“Replete with specific and practical suggestions, this book

is backed up by research and clinical expertise” - Julia
Ross, MA, MFT, author of The Mood Cure

“I recommend this book not only to those who suffer from

anxiety, but to their health care providers as well” -Karla
Maree, certified nutrition consultant

! “A leader in the field of food and mental health” Lawrence

E. Cormier, M.D, Holistic Psychiatry

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Tryptophan and ascorbic acid for anxiety caused by lead toxicity © 2017 Trudy Scott All Rights Reserved