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Ernest Hartmann, MD; James Cravens

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1974;31(3):394-397.

Abstract
Sleep latency in normal human subjects is significantly reduced by bedtime administration of the amino acid L-tryptophan. The reduction in sleep latency (approximately 50%) is significant even at a dose of 1 gm of L-tryptophan, which approximates the L-tryptophan content of 0.5 kg of meat. The electroencephalographic stages of sleep and the cycle of sleep are not significantly affected by low doses of L-tryptophan, but, at one or more of the higher doses (10 to 15 gm), there is a decrease in desynchronized sleep and an increase in slow-wave sleep.

Author Affiliations
Samuel List

From the Department of Psychiatry, Boston State Hospital and Tufts University School of Medicine.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication May 21, 1974.

Reprint requests to the Boston State Hospital, 591 Morton St, Boston, MA 02124 (Dr. Hartmann).

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ABSTRACT