In review of the science, effective integration of 5-HTP into a patient management plan is much more complicated than simply giving some 5-HTP in order to have more serotonin throughout the system. Administration of 5-HTP alone is contraindicated for depression and any process involving a catecholamine component due to its ability to facilitate depletion of these neurotransmitters. Administering serotonin or dopamine amino acid precursors should never involve administration of only one amino acid.
Improperly balanced amino acid precursors are associated with decreased efficacy, increased side effects, and depletion of the nondominant system. AS has no disclosures to reveal. National Center for Biotechnology Information , U. Journal List Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat v. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. Published online Jul Author information Copyright and License information Disclaimer.
This is an Open Access article which permits unrestricted noncommercial use, provided the original work is properly cited. An expression of concern has been published for this article. See Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Lhydroxytryptophan 5-HTP is the immediate precursor of serotonin.
Introduction In the United States, the nutritional supplement 5-hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP became available over the counter in April of The argument for using 5-HTP When placed in the proper context, the following basic chemical properties 2 — 15 explain the failure of 5-HTP to achieve consistent results.
The following scientific facts are generally accepted without dispute: In central nervous system disease states associated with synaptic serotonin dysfunction, synaptic serotonin levels in the brain must be increased to induce optimal outcomes.
Serotonin does not cross the blood—brain barrier. Short-term efficacy of 5-HTP alone Generally, efficacy studies related to 5-HTP fall into one of two categories: open nonblinded and double-blind, placebo-controlled studies. Monoamine depletion by amino acid precursors Serotonin and dopamine systems exist in two distinctly different and separate states.
Open in a separate window. Figure 1. Synthesis pathway of serotonin and catecholamines. Abbreviation: 5-HTP, 5-hydroxytryptophan. Figure 2. Effects of 5-HTP when administered in an unbalanced manner Amino acid precursors of serotonin and dopamine in the competitive inhibition state are intertwined during synthesis, metabolism, and transport to the point that they function as one system. Administration of 5-HTP in a properly balanced manner To achieve optimal efficacy, minimal side effects, and prevent depletion of other amino acids and neurotransmitters, 5-HTP must be administered in proper balance with dopamine amino acid precursors along with proper levels of sulfur amino acids.
Conclusion 5-HTP in the treatment of depression has languished for years. References 1. Hinz M. In: Kohlstadt I, editor. Food and Nutrients in Disease Management. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of dietary 5-hydroxytryptophan and tyrosine are found on urinary excretion of serotonin and dopamine in a large human population. The dual-gate lumen model of renal monoamine transport.
Neurotransmitter testing of the urine; a comprehensive analysis. Research and Reports in Urology. A pilot study differentiating recurrent major depression from bipolar disorder cycling on the depressive pole. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. Treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder with monoamine amino acid precursors and organic cation transporter assay interpretation.
Urinary neurotransmitter testing: considerations of spot baseline norepinephrine and epinephrine. Int J Gen Med. Monoamine depletion by reuptake inhibitors. Drug Healthc Patient Saf. The discrediting the monoamine hypothesis: a case study. Relative nutritional deficiencies associated with centrally acting monoamines. Depression: what is depression? For depression, weight loss, carbohydrate craving, insomnia and several other health situations, 5-HTP has been found to work wonders quickly!
What advantages does 5-HTP have over L-tryptophan? LHydroxytryptophan in depression: the first substitution therapy in psychiatry? L-Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan in the treatment of depression. Acta Psychiatr Scand. Shaw K, et al. Tryptophan and 5-Hydroxytryptophan for depression. Meyers S. Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression. Altern Med Rev. Amine precursors and depression. Arch Gen Psychiatry. Bupropion hydrochloride extended-release tablets prescription information.
In search of the mode of action of antidepressants. L-5 hydroxytryptophan is a natural chemical in the body that people can also take as a nutritional supplement. Some people believe that taking the supplement can improve certain aspects of health, including mental health and sleep quality. However, there is little significant research to prove that L-5 hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP can offer such benefits. In this article, learn about the possible benefits of 5-HTP, as well as its possible side effects.
The body produces serotonin through a series of chemical steps, starting with the amino acid L-tryptophan. One of the chemicals on the way from transforming L-tryptophan to serotonin is 5-HTP. Manufacturers derive the supplement from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia , which is an African plant.
The supplement does not naturally occur in foods. Some people believe that taking 5-HTP can increase the amount of serotonin in the body. Doctors have previously linked a lack of serotonin with a number of medical conditions, including depression. As a result, some doctors recommend taking 5-HTP along with regular medications for certain conditions. They found that the combination could induce sleep and seemed to enhance sleep quality and length of sleeping time.
Another review of treatments available for sleep problems found that 5-HTP may be beneficial in treating disorders of arousal, such as sleep terrors and sleepwalking. In a study that appears in the journal Brain and Behavior , scientists gave seven healthy human participants a 5-HTP supplement and another seven a vitamin C supplement. They then performed an MRI scan while showing participants real food and images of food to see how their brains responded.
A brain response for protein-rich foods was more likely to occur in those who took the 5-HTP supplement than in people who did not. Protein can help a person maintain a healthy body weight , so the researchers concluded that 5-HTP may help a person lose weight by reducing cravings for unhealthful foods. It is vital to note that this study was very small, so larger-scale research is necessary to validate these results. Another project studied 20 women who were overweight, 10 of whom took a 5-HTP supplement for 4 weeks.
The other 10 women took a placebo for the same amount of time. At the end of the study, the women who took 5-HTP reported greater feelings of satiety, or fullness, when eating, which led to a decreased food intake. While these studies were very small, they showed some promise that 5-HTP could help weight loss efforts.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are a common treatment for depression. These medications work by preventing the body from breaking down serotonin, thereby increasing the amount that is available in the body. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of research to support this.
An older meta-analysis examined the results of studies on 5-HTP and tryptophan in relieving depression symptoms. While the authors reviewed more than studies related to the topic, they found that few studies used high-quality methods. The researchers concluded that there was not enough evidence to say that 5-HTP had a greater effect than a placebo on depression. However, they did note that some of the studies found that 5-HTP could be better than placebo in some people.
These studies were too old, however, to represent the latest clinical research methods. Another challenge in using 5-HTP to treat depression is that the supplement does not usually last long in the body, which rapidly absorbs and eliminates it.
Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. The supplements have become popular because it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP in pill form can boost the body's serotonin levels, similar to the antidepressants that are thought to increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain.
In alternative medicine, 5-HTP supplements are purported to help in the treatment of conditions including:. So far, scientific support for the claim that 5-HTP can treat any condition safely and effectively is lacking. Several small clinical trials have found that 5-HTP is as effective as antidepressants. The 5-HTP was found to be as effective as the antidepressant, with fewer side effects. The small study that did meet the quality criteria found that 5-HTP worked better than placebo at alleviating depression.
Another study looked at 5-HTP or the drug propranolol for 4 months. However, the propranolol group fared better, with a reduction in the duration of episodes and the number of analgesics used for the treatment of episodes. Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and multiple tender points.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled study looked at 5-HTP or placebo in 50 people with fibromyalgia. Side effects were mild and transient. Serotonin is converted into melatonin, a hormone needed to regulate sleep-wake cycles.
Because 5-HTP is thought to increase serotonin levels, it may increase melatonin and help normalize sleep patterns. Potential side effects of 5-HTP include nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Rarely, allergic reaction to the supplement may occur.
Children with Down's syndrome should not take 5-HTP.
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