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No effect of oral tyrosine on total tyrosine levels in breast milk: implications for dietary supplementation in early postpartum

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Abstract

Postpartum depression (PPD) is the most common complication of childbearing with a 13 % prevalence rate, and there is no widespread approach for prevention. There is an appealing theoretical rationale for oral tyrosine to help prevent PPD. However, the effect of oral tyrosine on its total and free concentrations in breast milk and plasma of breastfeeding mothers is not known. Twenty-four healthy breastfeeding women were randomly assigned to 0, 2, 5, or 10 g of oral tyrosine. Free and total tyrosine in breast milk and free tyrosine in plasma were measured. Free tyrosine was also measured in 12 different infant formulas. Total tyrosine in breast milk did not rise, but there was a slight tendency towards a reduction (up to −12 %; repeated measures ANOVA (RMANOVA): p = 0.074). Maternal plasma tyrosine rose (RMANOVA: p < 0.005). In breast milk, 98 % of tyrosine was in proteins or peptides and 2 % was free. Free tyrosine levels in breast milk rose in each group (RMANOVA: p < 0.005), but levels were within the range found in common infant formulas. The negligible effect of oral tyrosine on its concentration in breast milk supports further development of oral tyrosine as part of a prevention strategy for PPD.

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Funding

This research received project support from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Dr. Meyer’s Canada Research Chair, and Yekta Dowlati received salary support from the Ontario Mental Health Foundation (OMHF).

Conflict of interest

Yekta Dowlati is assessing the effect of dietary supplements on mood in early postpartum. Jeffrey H. Meyer has received operating grant funds for other studies from Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, GlaxoSmithKline, and SK Life Science in the past 5 years. Dr. Meyer has been a consultant to several of these companies as well as Takeda, Sepracor, Trius, Mylan, and Teva. None of these companies participated in the design or execution of this study or writing of the manuscript. Dr. Meyer is developing natural health products to treat high MAO-A states and is applying for patents for such supplements. Dr. Meyer is applying for patents to implement measures of utilizing MAO to diagnose or treat mood disorders. It is likely that companies which make medications affecting monoamine receptor or monoamine oxidase binding will seek collaborations with Dr. Meyer in the future. Donna E. Stewart is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Duloxetine Pregnancy Registry and received travel funds for Ranbaxy Pharma in the past 12 months. She was also an author on an up-to-date chapter for depression in pregnancy. Arun V. Ravindran has received grant support from, has served on advisory boards for, and has participated in sponsored lectures in the past 3 years for AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly & Co., Pfizer Canada, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Janssen Ortho, and Cephalon. Meir Steiner does not have any conflict of interest. Maxim Maheux does not have any conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CAMH Research Imaging Centre and Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1R8, Canada

    Yekta Dowlati, Arun V. Ravindran & Jeffrey H. Meyer

  2. Institute of Medical Science, Toronto, Canada

    Yekta Dowlati, Arun V. Ravindran, Meir Steiner, Donna E. Stewart & Jeffrey H. Meyer

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Arun V. Ravindran, Meir Steiner, Donna E. Stewart & Jeffrey H. Meyer

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada

    Meir Steiner

  5. TransBioTech, Lévis, Quebec, Canada

    Maxim Maheux

  6. Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada

    Donna E. Stewart

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  1. Yekta Dowlati
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  2. Arun V. Ravindran
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  3. Maxim Maheux
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  4. Meir Steiner
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  5. Donna E. Stewart
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  6. Jeffrey H. Meyer
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Correspondence to Jeffrey H. Meyer.

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Dowlati, Y., Ravindran, A.V., Maheux, M. et al. No effect of oral tyrosine on total tyrosine levels in breast milk: implications for dietary supplementation in early postpartum. Arch Womens Ment Health 17, 541–548 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0441-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-014-0441-8

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