L-Dopa can be sourced from a few different plants such as Cassia, Dalbergia or Phanera. The velvet bean plant mucuna pruriens is the richest in L-Dopa and therefore commonly used.

L-Dopa is a precursor to the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine and biosynthesized from the amino acid L-Tyrosine. It is a psychoactive drug that is mainly used in the clinical treatment of Parkinson's disease and dopamine-responsive dystonia (DRD).

Dopamine is responsible for the communication between the neurons in the substantia nigra, a structure located in the midbrain that plays an important role in reward and movement and neurons of the basal ganglia, a part of the forebrain that is responsible for motor movements, procedural learning and routine behaviors [1,2]. The production of dopamine with the help of L-Dopa is therefore believed to help reducing tremor related to Parkinson’s disease.

According to studies [3],L-Dopa is able to influence reproductive conditions. The administering of L-Dopa over a period of up to 14 days have resulted in increased levels of testosterone [4], a naturally occurring anabolic steroid hormone that is responsible for the development of male reproductive tissues, increased muscle, bone mass and body hair. Although L-Dopa has been used for thousands of years in, among bodybuilders and individuals following a certain lifestyle, L-Dopa has become more popular over the last decade in regards to its testerone increasing effect.

Another useful benefit is the production of the steroid hormone cortisol. Cortisol is an important hormone produced by the adrenal gland, that affects many different functions in the body. Cortisol mainly helps to control blood sugar levels, blood pressure, regulate metabolism, reduce inflammation, wound healing and maintain salt/water balance within the body.

During treatment of Parkinson’s disease it was found that the libido was significantly affected by L-Dopa when taken in therapeutic doses and in combination with other herbal agents. Some probants reported hypersexuality after testing very high doses of 2.5g per intake. This suggests that L-Dopa alone is not sufficiently effective in increasing libido compared to other supplements on the market which further suggests that L-Dopa, if taken to increase sexuality, may be combined with other supplements with similar effects or the ability to apply attributes lacking in L-Dopa.

L-Dopa can help with stress induced infertility. As a study on 60 infertile but otherwise healthy men with psychological stress suggests [6], L-Dopa can specifically reduce stress and increase fertility by increasing the quality of semen.

Effects

• Increased dopamine levels

• Increased testosterone levels

• Muscle development

• Increased bone mass

• Increased cortisol levels

• Increased libido

• Stress relief

• Increased fertility

Dosage

The dosage should not exceed 1000mg per day. It is always better to start with smaller dosages and increment dosage until a personal optimum is found.

Application

Capsules should be taken with water, juice or other liquids. Ideally L-Dopa should be taken along with food to prevent stomach distress or nausea.

Stacking

L-Dopa has quite a few side-effects depending on dosage. To conquer the side-effects, it is generally recommended to combine L-Dopa with Cardidopa or another dopa decarboxylase inhibitor (DDCI). To enhance the effects of L-Dopa, you could also stack with mood enhancing supplements such as L-Theanine or 5-HTP.

Side effects

Most common
Headache, nausea (often caused by empty stomach when taking)

Less common

Hypotension, gastrointestinal bleeding, disturbed respiration, hair loss, anxiety, disorientation, insomnia

Rare

Arrhythmias, hallucinations, narcolepsy

Attention

Do not use when pregnant or breastfeeding. Always use a safe dosage. Never take more L-Dopa than recommended. Prolonged administration of L-Dopa can lead to health problems.

Legal

References

[1] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6271

[2] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6616231

[3] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22444229

[4] - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7716783

[5] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16932991

[6] - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2816389

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