Also known as L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine, L-DOPA is a chemical used in many functions of the human body (as well as in some plants and animals too).
It is best known as the direct precursor to the neurotransmitter dopamine.
Here are the amino acid precursors, L-Phenylalanine and L-Tyrosine, as well as the end products in this chain. As you can see L-DOPA is not just converted into dopamine but is also a precursor to norepinephrine and then epinephrine (aka noradrenaline and adrenaline).
Not pictured here, L-DOPA is also a precursor, several steps removed, from the skin color pigment melanin. There are several other conversions as well, but these are the most studied.
Besides being a precursor to some very important neurotransmitters and hormones, L-Dopa is also used by the brain and CNS to mediate neurotrophic factor release. Basically, it functions as a neurotransmitter on its own.1
A very important function of L-DOPA is that it crosses the blood-brain barrier, which dopamine cannot do. But L-DOPA can then be converted into dopamine, once inside the brain.
L-DOPA is used in the clinical treatment of Parkinson’s disease as it can greatly reduce symptoms.
L-DOPA Conversions
L-DOPA is converted to dopamine via an enzyme, DOPA decarboxylase, that uses an active form of vitamin B6, pyridoxal phosphate, as a cofactor. For this reason B6 is often included in formulas along with L-DOPA or mucuna.
(A note on B6 – All foods contain small amounts of B6. However this may not be enough to reach even the RDI, let alone a more optimal level. The foods with the highest amounts include raw milk, eggs, meat, molasses, poultry, fish (especially salmon and herring), bell peppers, turnip greens, carrots, peas, walnuts, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, and spinach. B6 content is affected by light, heat and oxygen. Up to 70 percent of its content may be lost in the processing of food.)
As far as your own body converting L-Tyrosine to L-Dopa, iron is used.
Nootropic Effect
In an interesting study, 40 healthy human subjects were given 100mg of L-DOPA or placebo and then studied by recalling pseudo-words they had learned.2 Pseudo-words are fake words, created for the purpose of studies like this.
Those taking L-DOPA were found to have greater speed, success and long-term retention of the words than those on placebo.
Those that were lighter, and thus received a higher dose in relation, performed better, showing effects were dose-dependent.
Testosterone and Growth Hormone
The effects of how L-DOPA and dopamine interact with the hormones in the body are not fully understood. Although we may know a fair amount on neurotransmitters and hormones, it is still relatively new that we’ve been able to study these areas.
That being said L-DOPA has been shown to increase growth hormone levels pretty significantly and consistently.3,4
There is likely some interaction with testosterone, though this doesn’t seem to be as conclusive. Dopamine plays a role there, so L-DOPA may be more indirect. Part of this appears to be that dopamine inhibits the hormone prolactin. Growth hormone also interacts with its androgenic brother in various ways.
Some research points to positive effects on testosterone.5 While others do not, including this study found that L-DOPA did not increase plasma testosterone levels in seven men.6
Actually, studies with mucuna, not just L-dopa seem to be even more positive in this light. This may be because synthetic L-DOPA isn’t as stable.
Libido
Dopamine is definitely a component of arousal, from the beginning to climax, at least in men. Less research has been done on women. L-DOPA’s role, beyond being dopamine’s precursor, is not fully clear.
From Examine.com: “3 men reported penile erection during the control (non-sexual) film used, an amusing side-effect. Case studies of persons using L-DOPA at dosages exceeding 2.5g note hypersexuality and more frequent (sometimes inappropriately timed) erections.”
Regarding this topic, Dr. William Wong told a humorous story, in this interview, of a Parkinson’s wing of a hospital where many of the patients were engaging in sex with each other.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Vision loss is common among the elderly. Yet an analysis done on those taking L-DOPA and those that were not , showed that L-DOPA may be protective against AMD and delay its onset. 7
Natural Sources of L-DOPA
Mucuna is the most well-known and used source of this chemical found in nature. At Lost Empire Herbs we use a full spectrum extract, meaning it has everything in it in ratios found in nature. This is as opposed to a standardized extract where one constituent is isolated sometimes to the exclusion of others. But our mucuna pruriens extract is still quite high, at 15.76% L-DOPA content, thus a gram contains 157mg of L-DOPA.
Other natural sources of L-DOPA that have been found include fava beans as well as some others in the bean and legume family.
L-DOPA Side Effects
Excessive dosages of L-DOPA can cause side effects including hypotension, arrhythmia, nausea, disturbed respiration, confusion, extreme emotional states, hallucinations, insomnia, excessive libido and more.
People also appear to get resistant to chronic administration.
While these all seem to be the case with high dosages as used in medical treatment, to be on the safe side, we recommend cycling off for periods of time on the use of herbs like mucuna.
If you note any of the aforementioned side effects please lower the dose you use, or discontinue use of mucuna.
Sources:
- Hiroshima, Y., Miyamoto, H., Nakamura, F., & Masukawa, D. (2013). The protein Ocular albinism 1 is the orphan GPCR GPR143 and mediates depressor and bradycardic responses to DOPA in the nucleus tractus solitarii. British Journal of Pharmacology Br J Pharmacol, 171(2), 403-414.
- Knecht, S., Breitenstein, C., Bushuven, S., & Wailke, S. (2004). L-DOPA: Faster and better word learning in normal humans. Annals of Neurology Ann Neurol., 56(1), 20-26.
- Chihara, K., Kashio, Y., Kita, T., & Okimura, Y. (1986). L-Dopa Stimulates Release of Hypothalamic Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone in Humans. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 62(3), 466-473.
- Boden, G., Lundy, L., & Owen, O. (1972). Influence of L-DOPA on Serum Levels of Anterior Pituitary Hormones in Man. Neuroendocrinology, 10(5), 309-315.
- Michael Okun – Samuel Wu – Dana Jennings – Kenneth Marek – Ramon Rodriguez – Hubert Fernandez – Testosterone level and the effect of L-DOPA and agonists in early Parkinson disease: results from the INSPECT cohort – Journal of Clinical Movement Disorders J Clin Mov Disord – 2014
- Sinhamahapatra, S. B., & Kirschner, M. A. (1972). Effect of l -DOPA on Testosterone and Luteinizing Hormone Production. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 34(4), 756-758.
- Brilliant, M. H., Vaziri, K., Connor, T. B., & Schwartz, S. G. (2015). Mining Retrospective Data for Virtual Prospective Drug Repurposing: L-DOPA and Age-related Macular Degeneration. The American Journal of Medicine.
- Don’t Buy Supplements on Amazon - May 12, 2023
- Reversing BPA Toxicity with Cistanche - May 3, 2023
- Alcohol Burning Your Mouth? Try this Tincture Trick - April 24, 2023
Lost Empire Herbs
Keeo in touch!
Thank you for this article on L-dopa and its benefits and how it works. This is very informative and useful!
I use Macuna with the Dick Drink formula, every other day works just fine for me, I also use Maca for increased volume of ejaculate. My lady says it is way more than men my age which is 62.
What is your Dick Drink formula ?
ED miracle shake, google it!
L-Dopa shouldnt be used with Vitamin B6 because it will be converted into Dopamine before it gets past the BBB making it useless. Dopamine in your blood does not get into the brain, simple terms.
Right, why doing a more natural method of dopamine increase is recommended.
Interested to know is it possible to buy with a higher % of Ldopa
Regards
Brian
I guess it’s possible to find it on the market, but higher % doesn’t necessarily equal better performance.
Mucuna is good stuff but needs to be at least 30% L Dopa content. I have been using Barlowe’s Mucuna which is 40%, very high quality extract. If I take before bedtime along with Cnidium Monnieri, I will have erections lasting as long as I want.
Needs to be? So 29% would be useless? Ours is a full spectrum extract meaning it has natural ratios along with everything else that is present in mucuna and not just standardized for this “active” constituent.
Where do you get that stuff?
I don’t know about you guys but I am gonna try and go for those inappropriate erections. Figuring out how many tablespoons of mucuna are needed to hypersexualize.
That’s funny Christopher because I was thinking that I wanted to pursue the exact same goal.
I would like to know what a safe dose would be? by the teaspoon or what?
Hi,I tried your mucuna product last year.While I don’t recall the exact amount,I took the dose that was recommended.I had noticeable effects quite fast.I felt like I was going to be sick and did not feel at all like myself for almost an entire day.I felt both physical and mental distress.I tried a much reduced dose a few days later but had the same reaction but it did not last as long and was not quite as intense.
I can tell you that I felt no sexual stimulation at all.During the late 80’s I was under the care of a psychotherapist who gave me an anti-depressant.I took it for two days and had to stop and was unable to achieve an erection,having the same distress that I experienced with the mucuna pruriens last year.I also was unable to tolerate the sleep aid Lunestra in 2002.One dose kept me awake with mild halucinations for almost two days.
I’ve no idea what my brain chemistry make-up is but clearly,certain substances produce the exact opposite effect on me than that which is intended. Thanks for reading.
Yeah it is an interesting one that doesn’t seem to suit all people. That just proves the importance of finding out what works for you.