HIGH SERUM TRYPTOPHAN ASSOCIATED WITH EVIDENCE FOR DIMINISHED CENTRALSEROTONIN FUNCTION IN ABSTINENT ALCOHOLICS

We measured the serum tryptophan in a group of abstinent alcoholics an d healthy controls and compared the findings with the results of a d-f enfluramine prolactin challenge in the same group of alcoholics and ma tched controls. The prolactin response to d-fenfluramine was diminishe d in the alcoholics, while the serum tryptophan was elevated. When the alcoholics were divided into high tryptophan and low tryptophan group s by the mean alcoholic tryptophan, the high tryptophan alcoholics had a diminished prolactin response to d-fenfluramine while the low trypt ophan alcoholics did not. These findings suggest the possibility of on e or more serotonergic abnormalities in abstinent alcoholics.