I am sure everyone has heard claims that the reason people get sleepy after a thanksgiving meal is that turkey contains a lot of L-tryptophan.
Question one: Is this True? Or is it simply overeating.
I understand the molecular basis for L-tryptophan’s theoretical effect . But is it true that this can result from the levels of typtophan in a turkey dinner?
Question two: If this is true… Why do turkeys have so much damned tryptophan anyway. Do they have tons of a particular tryptophan rich protein in their muscles that other animals (which we also eat) do not?
Most proteins have very similar (if not identical) homologues or orthologues in other species. I would not expect these to have altered trytophan levels to such a significant amount.
There is a difference between, containing a lot of tryptophan in the form of long polypeptides (proteins) and “free” tryptophan. Tryptophan containing proteins would not have this affect. Free tryptophan-absorbed by the body from the digestion of high tryptophan containing proteins… in say, turkey… could cause this sedation, theoretically.
However, I was not interested in discussing the molecular basis for the proposed drowsiness. I would like to know:
If the amount of tryptophan in a turkey dinner could cause such effects?..