Tryptophan modulates the impact of prolactin on insomnia in perimenopausal women: a cross-sectional study - Summary - MDSpire

Tryptophan modulates the impact of prolactin on insomnia in perimenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

  • By

  • Shizhuo Yang

  • Lanrong Sun

  • Weiyi Liu

  • Chaoyi Guo

  • Kexin Wang

  • Hong Huang

  • Peipei Zhou

  • Zhonglu Liao

  • Yanxiang Chang

  • Wenyan Wang

  • Yu-Hsin Chen

  • Xingguang Luo

  • Yimin Kang

  • Yanlong Liu

  • Sishi Du

  • Fan Wang

  • Qiulin Wu

  • May 1, 2026

  • 0 min

Share

Objective:

To identify factors associated with insomnia in perimenopausal women and understand the specific moderating role of tryptophan in the relationship between prolactin levels and insomnia.

Key Findings:
  • Serum prolactin levels positively correlated with insomnia, anxiety, and depression scores, indicating a significant relationship.
  • Prolactin levels were associated with sleep-onset difficulties and sleep maintenance problems, highlighting their impact on sleep quality.
  • Higher serum tryptophan levels strengthened the positive relationship between prolactin levels and insomnia severity, suggesting a potential therapeutic target.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest that tryptophan may enhance the effects of prolactin on insomnia, indicating a complex interplay between neuroendocrine factors and sleep disturbances in perimenopausal women, which aligns with existing literature on hormonal influences on sleep.

Limitations:
  • Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences.
  • Sample size may not be representative of all perimenopausal women.
  • Potential confounding factors not fully controlled, including reliance on self-reported measures.
Conclusion:

Understanding the moderating effect of tryptophan on prolactin's influence on insomnia may inform future research and therapeutic strategies for perimenopausal women.

Original Source(s)

Tryptophan modulates the impact of prolactin on insomnia in perimenopausal women: a cross-sectional study

  • by Shizhuo Yang, Lanrong Sun, Weiyi Liu, Chaoyi Guo, Kexin Wang, Hong Huang, Peipei Zhou, Zhonglu Liao, Yanxiang Chang, Wenyan Wang, Yu-Hsin Chen, Xingguang Luo, Yimin Kang, Yanlong Liu, Sishi Du, Fan Wang, Qiulin Wu

  • May 1, 2026

Related Content

Holistic care in inflammatory bowel disease: is it in REACH?

Physician-led versus questionnaire-based psychosocial screening in adults with high-grade glioma: a cluster-randomized controlled trial (GLIOPT)

Then and Now: What We Have Learned From the WHI