A glass of milk to better sleep... This recipe of grand-mother has-t-it a physiological basis?
It is a revenue of grand-mother Most popular: a glass of milk before going to bed would, it is said, wonders on the sleep. A study conducted in 1934 has shown that a dinner based on milk and Corn Flakes facilitated the sleep. Another, in the 1970s, has observed the same effect in the elderly. And that is about all.
During a time, scientists have attributed this supposed soporific effect in the tryptophan (Trp), an amino acid content (among others) in the milk and how the brain is necessary for the manufacture of serotonin, a molecule itself precursor of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
It was therefore thought it, logically, that it was enough to binge of tryptophan (and therefore of milk) for that our brain synthesizes more of melatonin...
It remains to the door
Unfortunately, things are not so simple. The milk proteins are not made only of tryptophan, but of a whole host of other amino acids that have nothing to see with the serotonin and which are found them also in the blood. However, to penetrate the brain, all must cross the barrier Hémato-encéphalique that protects, and for this they need of "carriers".
The result: it is the bottleneck at the entrance of the brain. The carriers are taken by assault, and a good part of the tryptophan remains at the door. If this is a bit of comfort, the glass of milk at bedtime does therefore nothing to sleep.
According to Science & Life QR n°21" Power & Well-be" - buy this number
It is a revenue of grand-mother Most popular: a glass of milk before going to bed would, it is said, wonders on the sleep. A study conducted in 1934 has shown that a dinner based on milk and Corn Flakes facilitated the sleep. Another, in the 1970s, has observed the same effect in the elderly. And that is about all.
During a time, scientists have attributed this supposed soporific effect in the tryptophan (Trp), an amino acid content (among others) in the milk and how the brain is necessary for the manufacture of serotonin, a molecule itself precursor of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
It was therefore thought it, logically, that it was enough to binge of tryptophan (and therefore of milk) for that our brain synthesizes more of melatonin...
It remains to the door
Unfortunately, things are not so simple. The milk proteins are not made only of tryptophan, but of a whole host of other amino acids that have nothing to see with the serotonin and which are found them also in the blood. However, to penetrate the brain, all must cross the barrier Hémato-encéphalique that protects, and for this they need of "carriers".
The result: it is the bottleneck at the entrance of the brain. The carriers are taken by assault, and a good part of the tryptophan remains at the door. If this is a bit of comfort, the glass of milk at bedtime does therefore nothing to sleep.
According to Science & Life QR n°21" Power & Well-be" - buy this number
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