L-tryptophan and scleroderma: significance of nutritional supplements containing L-tryptophan.

A 28-year-old female patient, housewife, presented to our outpatient department with a history of gradually increasing thickening and tightness of skin mainly over the extremities and face of three months duration. The patient had her first delivery five months earlier. There was no history of any significant co-morbidities or associated symptoms. Patient did not give a history of dysphagia, exertional dyspnea or Raynaud’s phenomena. The patient gave a history of taking a particular nutritional supplement for about a month following her delivery. This particular supplement had amongst its constituent’s L-tryptophan and l-phenylalanine (she was getting approximately 15 mg per day of each L-tryptophan and l-phenylalanine).