Posted by Larry Hoover on November 12, 2004, at 10:21:07
In reply to Re: Tryptophan and the UK, posted by ed_uk on November 12, 2004, at 7:38:53
> Hello...
> Ever since the health scare about Tryptophan and the eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, tryptophan has never been popular in England. After the withdrawal of Tryptophan, the UK Medicines Control Agency reintroduced Tryptophan for restricted use only. I think they were probably overcautious, just in case it turned out that there really was a major problem with Tryptophan.
> EdJust for thoroughness.....the contaminant in that trytophan arose because of two extraordinary circumstances. The Japanese manufacturer was using a novel fermentation process to concentrate the tryptophan, and, they performed fewer purification steps than were reasonable. The EMS-triggering contaminant was a never before described modified tryptophan dimer. As the particular strain of microbe used in this process has been destroyed, and manufacturers are now thoroughly purifying and analysing every batch of tryptophan before release from the factory, I cannot believe this sort of thing could ever happen again.
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:414892
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20041108/msgs/414988.html