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N-Acetyl-L-Tyrosine

Marketed as a more bioavailable tyrosine, but pharmacokinetic evidence shows most NALT is excreted unchanged in urine — plasma tyrosine increases far less than from equivalent L-tyrosine. | Compound

Aliases (3)
NALT · N-Acetyl-Tyrosine · NAT
TYPICAL DOSE
300-500 mg, 30-60 min before cognitive task
ROUTE
—
CYCLE
—
STORAGE
—
✎
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▸ Overview TL;DR

Marketed as a more bioavailable tyrosine, but pharmacokinetic evidence shows most NALT is excreted unchanged in urine — plasma tyrosine increases far less than from equivalent L-tyrosine. Use plain L-tyrosine instead unless GI issues force a switch. Dylan: stay with l-tyrosine.md.

▸ Mechanism of action
  • Acetyl group on the alpha-amine is intended to improve solubility and reduce GI breakdown.
  • In humans, NALT is poorly hydrolyzed by tissue aminoacylases (low affinity vs other N-acetyl amino acids) and a substantial fraction is renally excreted intact.
  • The small portion that does deacetylate yields free L-tyrosine → DOPA → dopamine/norepinephrine pathway.
  • Net: dose-for-dose, NALT delivers far less circulating tyrosine than equivalent L-tyrosine — the opposite of marketing claims.
▸ Pharmacokinetics No data
Pharmacokinetics data not available for this compound.
No half-life mentions found in the source notes.
▸ What to expect Generic
  1. 1
    Week 1
    Tolerability and dose-response.
  2. 2
    Week 2-4
    Early effect window.
  3. 3
    Week 4-8
    Peak benefit assessment.
  4. 4
    Week 8+
    Cycle decision point.
▸ Side effects + safety
  • Common (>10%): Negligible at typical doses; rare GI upset.
  • Less common (1-10%): Mild headache, jitteriness if stacked with stimulants.
  • Rare-serious (<1%): None documented at supplement doses; theoretical concern for renal load with chronic high doses (excretion-heavy clearance pathway).
  • Specific watch periods: None unique.
▸References3 sources

Hoffer et al. (2003), Brain Res Bull

2003

pharmacokinetic comparison; NALT inferior bioavailability.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govView →

Magnusson et al. (1989), Metabolism

1989

NALT clearance and excretion in TPN.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govView →

Examine.com — L-Tyrosine page (covers NALT)

evidence comparison.

examine.comView →
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