Oh wait! they do.
While consuming tryptophan can cause a rise in serotonin levels, eating a pill full of serotonin only results in your digestive system breaking it down for its amino acids...
"Serotonin taken orally does not pass into the serotonergic pathways of the central nervous system because it does not cross the blood-brain barrier. However, tryptophan and its metabolite 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), from which serotonin is synthesized, can and do cross the blood-brain barrier. These agents are available as dietary supplements and may be effective serotonergic agents. One product of serotonin breakdown is 5-Hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5 HIAA), which is excreted in the urine. Serotonin and 5 HIAA are sometimes produced in excess amounts by certain tumors or cancers, and levels of these substances may be measured in the urine to test for these tumors." - wikipedia
So you can eat tryptophan, or take SSRIs like Prozac, but eating a pill full of serotonin shouldn't have any effect on mood.
Though the usual stimulant referenced with chocolate is theobromine, it has tryptophan, caffeine, and dopamine in it, but makes for another great example since it contains the so-called 'love drug' Phenethylamine, which like serotonin, when taken orally doesn't get into position to do anything to your moods itself since you metabolize it first.
I amuse myself.
Any one else think someone stole all the seratonin?
- 23/07/2010 11:27:13 PM
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Don't you sometimes wish they could bottle serotonin and sell it?
- 24/07/2010 01:12:05 AM
395 Views
I don't believe they do
- 24/07/2010 01:32:48 AM
447 Views
Since when has lack of efficacy stopped supplement sales? 
*NM*
- 24/07/2010 02:01:44 AM
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*NM*
- 24/07/2010 02:01:44 AM
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Rarely, but I'm not aware of anyone producing that particular snake oil
- 24/07/2010 02:41:37 AM
397 Views
Or just eat some chocolate!
- 24/07/2010 04:02:45 AM
451 Views
Which would be eating tryptophan, albeit not a particular high percent
- 24/07/2010 04:26:15 AM
411 Views
Mmm... chocolate
- 24/07/2010 07:02:53 AM
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