In 1989, the FDA recalled all over-the-counter dietary supplements containing 100 milligrams or more of L-tryptophan due to its link to an outbreak of Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome, and by 1990 the CDC had confirmed more than 1,500 cases, including 38 deaths.
Sources
- Milestones in US Food and Drug Law (fda.gov)
- https://responsibletechnology.org/science-guide/l-tryptophan/toxic-l-tryptophan-shedding-light-on-a-mysterious-epidemic-background-information/ (responsibletechnology.org)
- https://www.nemsn.org/Articles/truth_about_tryptophan.htm (nemsn.org)
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/eosinophilia-myalgia-syndrome (sciencedirect.com)
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00001738.htm (cdc.gov)
- https://cot.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/cot/tryptophanamend200401.pdf (cot.food.gov.uk)
- https://apfed.org/about-ead/eosinophilia-myalgia-syndrome/ (apfed.org)