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Branched chain amino acids decrease tardive dyskinesia symptoms
M A Richardson1, M L Bevans, J B Weber
1Movement Disorders Division, The Nathan S. Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, New York State Office of Mental Health, Orangeburg 10962, USA.
Psychopharmacology
|June 15, 1999
Summary
Increasing intake of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) significantly reduced tardive dyskinesia (TD) symptoms in men. This suggests BCAA may be a promising treatment for TD by improving amino acid balance in the brain.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Tardive dyskinesia (TD) is associated with impaired clearance of phenylalanine (Phe).
- Increased availability of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and reduced brain Phe levels may decrease TD symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if increasing daily BCAA intake can reduce TD symptoms.
- To assess the impact of BCAA supplementation on plasma amino acid levels in patients with TD.
Main Methods:
- A 2-week trial involving nine men with histories of neuroleptic treatment.
- Administration of a BCAA medical food three times daily.
- Videotape analysis of TD movement frequency and blind assessment of symptom changes.
- Monitoring of plasma large neutral amino acid (LNAA) levels.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant and clinically meaningful decrease in TD symptom severity was observed.
- Six out of nine subjects experienced at least a 58% reduction in TD symptoms.
- BCAA administration elevated plasma BCAA concentrations and BCAA/LNAA ratios, while decreasing Phe concentrations and Phe/LNAA ratios.
- A strong correlation was found between increased plasma BCAA levels and TD symptom improvement.
Conclusions:
- Branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) show potential as an effective treatment for tardive dyskinesia (TD).
- BCAA treatment may alleviate TD symptoms by enhancing BCAA availability and reducing phenylalanine (Phe) availability to the brain.