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Title
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Seasonal variation in plasma L-tryptophan availability in healthy volunteers : relationships to violent suicide occurrence
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objective: To investigate the seasonal variation in levels of plasma L-tryptophan and competing amino acids (CAAs) in healthy humans in relation to climatic variables, total serum protein levels, and violent suicide occurrence. Methods: Twenty-six healthy volunteers (13 men and 13 women; mean [+/-SD] age, 38.7+/-13.4 years) had monthly blood samplings for assays of L-tryptophan, valine, leucine, isoleucine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine during 1 calendar year. Results: Significant annual rhythms were detected in L-tryptophan, the L-tryptophan/CAA ratio, phenylalanine, valine, and leucine, and semiannual rhythms in L-tryptophan values and in L-tryptophan/CAA ratios. Plasma L-tryptophan and the L-tryptophan/CAA ratio were significantly lower in the spring than in the other seasons. The peak-trough differences in the yearly variation expressed as a percentage of the mean were 17.1% and 16.1% for L-tryptophan values and L-tryptophan/CAA ratios, respectively The amplitude of the yearly variation in all CAAs was low, ie, less than 7%. An important part of the variance in L-tryptophan availability (ie, 12% to 14%) could be explained by the composite effects of present and past climatic factors; higher ambient temperature and relative humidity in the face of lower air pressure are the most important predictors of low L-tryptophan availability. Important and positive time relationships were noted between total serum protein level and all amino acid concentrations, and a significant time relationship was also noted between the seasonal variation in L-tryptophan availability and the occurrence of violent suicide in Belgium. Conclusion: Our results show a bimodal seasonal pattern in the availability of plasma L-tryptophan that matches seasonal patterns in the prevalence of violent suicide in the local population and depression in other studies. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Archives of general psychiatry. - Chicago, Ill., 1960 - 2012
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Publication
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Chicago, Ill.
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1995
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ISSN
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0003-990X
[print]
1538-3636
[online]
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Volume/pages
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52
:11
(1995)
, p. 937-946
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ISI
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A1995TD68200006
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