Tryptophan Metabolism in Human Diseases

Tryptophan (Trp) is an essential amino acid needed in the human body. When metabolized in the body, it produces various bioactive compounds such as serotonin, melatonin, and indoles. These compounds play important roles in regulating neural activities, energy, and nutrition metabolism. However, abnormalities in tryptophan metabolism have also been associated with a variety of human diseases such as neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and diabetes. This chapter describes the biological connection between intestinal Trp metabolism and human diseases and also discusses the changes in Trp metabolism under disease models.