Tyrosine is a type of amino acid, which are the building blocks of protein. The body makes tyrosine from another amino acid called phenylalanine.

In the diet, tyrosine can be eaten in dairy products, meats, fish, eggs, nuts, beans, oats, and wheat. The body uses tyrosine to make chemical messengers that are involved in conditions affecting the brain, such as mental alertness.

People most commonly use tyrosine in protein supplements for an inherited disorder called phenylketonuria (PKU). It is also used for alcohol use disorder, cocaine dependence, and memory and thinking skills