It seems odd that an amino acid is a major component for various fat burning blends. Is there is strong evidence that L Tyrosine yields fat loss?

What Is It?

L-Tyrosine is an amino acid that the body natural produces but can also be acquired by consumption. In serves as a critical precursor to various chemical compounds essential for optimal living, including:

• Dopamine
• Noradrenaline/Norepinephrine  
• T3 &T4 Hormones

Dopamine is necessary is for maintaining mood and energy level whereas norepinephrine dictates how the body responds to emergency situations (increased blood flow to limbs, elevated heart rate, suppression of bodily fluids).  T3 & T4 are produced by the thyroid gland which is responsible for controlling and maintaining body temperature, heart rate, cholesterol levels, and the metabolic rate.

How (It’s Supposed) To Work

 L-Tyrosine is believed to assist with fat loss by indirect and direct means. It is common for individuals to experience bouts of anxiety, sadness, and depression as they attempt to burn excessive weight. Uncontrolled, these feelings can lead to bouts of binge eating and other negative behaviors. L-Tyrosine supplementation may help one maintain a positive sense of well-being and suppress problematic behaviors such as emotional overeating. 

Obese individuals often suffer from an underactive thyroid which leads to a compromised metabolism. L-Tyrosine supplementation increases T3 and T4 levels of a person and improves their metabolic rate. Thus for a healthy individual, L-Tyrosine may increase their metabolic rate to the extent that fat loss is noticeable.   

Science Says…… 

There are very few studies that have directly explored the relationship between fat loss and L-Tyrosine and none have provided significant evidence supporting the amino acid’s fat torching prowess (this will be a recurring theme for many fat burning supplements). While L-Tyrosine supplementation does improve thyroid function, there have been no studies that determined whether it can elevate one’s metabolism beyond their normal levels.

Anything Else? 

Despite the lack of evidence favoring L-Tyrosine as an effective fat burner, there are numerous studies supporting its effectiveness for reducing stress, improving cognition, and supporting one’s perception of their well-being. Foods such as seeds, almonds, avocados, fish, bananas, legumes, turkey, and cheese are natural sources of the amino acid.

Our Recommendation:

It would be unfair to label L-Tyrosine useless and the amino acid may be beneficial in cocktail fat-burning supplements. However, there is no convincing evidence of its fat-torching capabilities and we advise to steer away from fat burners that state L-Tyrosine as their primary ingredient.

Dosage

Daily: 500-2000mg