Threonine

About Threonine
• Introduction
• Reported Uses
• Dosage Info
• Precaution
• Footnotes

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Threonine

Introduction

Threonine is an essential amino acid, meaning it is not produced in the body and must be obtained from the diet or supplementation. Threonine is an important component in the formation of protein, collagen, elastin and tooth enamel. It is also important for production of neurotransmitters and health of the nervous system.

There are high levels of threonine in most meats, dairy foods and eggs, and moderate levels in wheat germ, many nuts, beans, and seeds, as well as some vegetables.

Reported Uses

Interactions

Drug/Nutrient Interactions
	Antihypertensive medications

Because it supports the nervous system, threonine has been used to improve some symptoms of Lou Gehrig's disease.(1) Similar results have been noted for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.(2, 3) Threonine deficiency has also been associated with depression.(4)

Threonine may enhance immunity by assisting in the production of agents that fight viral infections.(5) It has been studied for its potential ability to inhibit fat accumulation in the liver.(6)

Dosage Info

Dosage Range	Most Common Dosage	Dosage Forms
100mg – 7.5 grams daily.	1 gram, 2 times a day.	Tablets, capsules, and powder.

Toxicities & Precautions

Be sure to tell your pharmacist, doctor or other health care providers about any dietary supplements you are taking. There may be a potential for interactions or side effects.

General
This dietary supplement is considered safe when used in accordance with proper dosing guidelines.

Side Effects
Occasional side effects reported with the use of this dietary supplement include increased blood pressure.(7) Tell your doctor if these side effects become severe or do not go away.

Pregnancy/Breast-Feeding
To date, the medical literature has not reported any adverse effects related to fetal development during pregnancy or to infants who are breast-fed. Yet little is known about the use of this dietary supplement while pregnant or breast-feeding. Therefore, it is recommended that you inform your healthcare practitioner of any dietary supplements you are using while pregnant or breast-feeding.

Age Limitations
To date, the medical literature has not reported any adverse effects specifically related to the use of this dietary supplement in children. Since young children may have undiagnosed allergies or medical conditions, this dietary supplement should not be used in children under 10 years of age unless recommended by a physician.

Footnotes

¹ Blin O, et al. A Double-Blind Placebo Controlled Trial of L Threonine in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. La Presse Medicale. Sep1989;18(30):1469-70.
² Doolittle TH, Hauser SL, et al. Antispasticity Effect of Threonine in Multiple Sclerosis. Archives of Neurology. Sep1992;49:923-26.
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³ Lee A, et al. A Double-blind Study of L-threonine in Patients with Spinal Spasticity. V Acta Neurol Scand. Nov1988;88(5):334-38.
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⁴ Maes M, et al. Serum Levels of Excitatory Amino Acids, Serine, Glycine, Histidine, Threonine, Taurine, Alanine and Arginine in Treatment-resistant Depression: Modulation by Treatment with Antidepressants and Prediction of Clinical Responsivity. Acta Psychiatr Scand. Apr1998;97(4):302-08.
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⁵ Lotan R, et al. The Effect of Lysine and Threonine Supplementation on the Immune Response of Growing Rats Fed Wheat Gluten Diets. Nutr Teports Inter. 1980;22(3):313-18.
⁶ Fukuda N, Hidaka T, Toda T, Sugano M. Altered hepatic metabolism of free fatty acid in rats fed a threonine-imbalanced diet. J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). Oct1990;36(5):467-74.
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⁷ Vasdev S, Whalen M, et al. Ethanol- and Threonine-induced Hypertension in Rats: A Common Mechanism. Can J Cardiol. Oct1995;11(9):807-15.
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This information is educational in context and is not to be used to diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Please consult your licensed health care practitioner before using this or any medical information.