L-Dopa
L-DOPA, or levodopa, is an amino acid that the brain converts to dopamine. Combined with carbidopa, it is a medicine for Parkinson symptoms.
Also listed as Levodopa, L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine
Why study a plant source?
A crossover trial tested single doses of roasted Mucuna pruriens seed powder in 18 people with advanced Parkinson disease. Motor responses compared favorably with levodopa/benserazide. The aim was an affordable treatment option where medicines were hard to access; this acute experiment did not establish long-term interchangeability with prescription therapy. 1
More dopamine does not mean better performance on every task
In a placebo-controlled crossover experiment, healthy younger and older adults received 100 mg levodopa with 25 mg carbidopa. Performance on a reward-learning task worsened in both age groups. The finding challenges a simple cognitive-boosting claim, while leaving other tasks and populations as separate research questions. 2
Effects by health goal
Open an effect to see the studies behind its rating. Bars show the size of the effect; the letter grades the evidence.
Cognition5 effects
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
No study is linked to this rating.
Longevity1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Stress & Mood1 effect
No study is linked to this rating.
Sources
- Independent effects of age and levodopa on reversal learning in healthy volunteers Neurobiology of Aging, 2018