11 Reasons Why 5-HTP Might be What You Need and 1 Major Reason You Might Want To Avoid ItIt has been claimed that 5-HTP can benefit you in a number of ways including 1) controlling appetite, aiding in weight loss, and helping to overcome obesity
... but is there a link between 5-HTP, Peak X and Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome? -What is 5-HTP? 5-HTP is an amino acid. It is converted from tryptophan from the foods you eat. From 5-HTP or 5-hydroxytryptophan, it is converted into the brain chemical serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain neurotransmitter that transmits signals between brain cells and helps your brain regulate your behavior, mood, appetite, impulse control, and sleep. 5-HTP is thought to have a positive effect on your overall feeling of well-being. -Is 5-HTP Found in Foods? Although 5-HTP is not found in the foods we eat, its precursor tryptophan is. As you remember from above, tryptophan is converted to 5-HTP before being transported into your brain to be converted into the brain chemical serotonin. Although tryptophan is found in milk, chicken, turkey, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, potatoes, seaweed, collard greens, and turnips, these foods do not result in a very significant increase of 5-HTP. When used as a supplement, 5-HTP is made from the seeds of an plant found in Africa called Griffonia simplicifolia.
If you are as old as I am, you may remember a drug called Fenfluramine or now the infamous phen-fen. This drug was vey popular and very successful in helping folks lose weight - lots of it. Problem was, phen-fen was found to damage heart valves and was yanked from the market. However, what phen-fen did (sans the heart damage) was to raise the serotonin levels in your brain. This it was learned later, was thought to be the key to its weight lose success. A few placebo controlled, double blind clinical trials looked at this relationship. Targeting 45 participants overall, the 19 on 5-HTP who made no conscious effort to eat less ate 500 calories less calories than the placebo group (1800 calories for the 5-HTP group to 2300 calories for the 26 participant placebo group). The group taking the 5-HTP appeared to be satisfied faster the the placebo group. Of course the 5-HTP group lost more than 3 lbs. in 5 weeks without even going on a "diet". -Does 5-HTP Really Help With Sleeping Disorders by Promoting Normal Sleep and Fighting Insomnia? Although not many studies have been conducted on the relationship between 5-HTP and one's ability to maintain sound sleep, it is thought that since prescription antidepressants have shown promise in aiding sleep and because antidepressants have been shown to increase the brain chemical serotonin, then by default, 5-HTP by increasing serotonin levels in your brain will also aid sleep and fight insomnia. However, it is thought that high doses of 5-HTP before bedtime may result in nightmares and vivid dreams.
In a number of small studies, 5-HTP has been compared to and has seemed to compete with prescription antidepressants. One study took place over a 6 week period, used 63 participants and compared 5-HTP with the prescription antidepressant drug Prozac. It was found by researchers that 5-HTP provided the same antidepressant benefits as did the prescription drug but with far fewer side effects. Several small studies seem to indicate that 5-HTP just might be as effective as some prescription antidepressants for treating folks with mild through moderate depression symptoms. Prescription antidepressants are what are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include the prescription drugs Zoloft, Luvox, and Prozac. SSRIs are designed to increase the level of the brain chemical serotonin. One study including 63 participants showed that those folks given the 5-HTP not only had fewer side effects, but did just as well. Although these studies show promise, more studies need to b performed. The social anxiety support site forum has some interesting posts: http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f56/5-htp-5-hydroxytryptophan-84151/ -Can Obsessive Compulsive Disorder be Alleviated with 5-HTP? Can 5-HTP help alleviate obsessive compulsive disorder? Although there is not much research when it comes to the natural treatment of OCD, it is thought that there are a whole range of challenges that may be linked to a deficiency of the brain chemical serotonin. And one of those challenges is thought to be obsessive compulsive disorder. The OCD Recovery Center Website states what we have included in our information above - that 5-HTP in promotes the brain chemical serotonin levels by "increasing cellular serotonin output." In a multi-center, double blind, controlled study, 5-HTP was found to be as effective as the SSRI prescription drug Luvox. -How About Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder? Will 5-HTP Help Here? We're not sure that there is a lot of research linking 5HTP to Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. However, as we discussed above, 5-HTP is a precursor for the production of the brain chemical serotonin. And as we discussed, serotonin plays an important role in controlling and modulating you mood and behavior. It has been shown that having adequate levels of serotonin in your brain results in feelings of calmness, relaxation, and euphoria however mild. Low levels of serotonin, on the other hand, has been shown to lead to irritability, anxiety, depression, and insomnia. These conditions could positively or negatively affect someone with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. -I've Got Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Can 5-HTP Help? Is there evidence that 5-HTP can help with symptoms of fibromyalgia? A search of the internet will show that there are three studies that suggest that 5-HTP might help alleviate symptoms of fibromyalgia such as morning stiffness, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. It has been found that many folks suffering with fibromyalgia also exhibit low levels of the brain chemical serotonin. A double-blind study using 50 participants taking 300 mg of 5-HTP for 30 days seemed to have experienced a significant decrease in the pain and number of tender points compared to the folks taking a placebo. the same folks reporting the improvements above, also reported improved sleep patterns, less fatigue, anxiety, and stiffness in the morning. Although encouraging, more studies need to be conducted before definitive findings are published. -Will 5-HTP Help Me With Migraines? There is some evidence that 5-HTP may be effective in alleviating migraine headaches. However, the dosage that seemed to achieve those results were quite high. In a trial that lasted 6 months, 400 - 600 mg proved to be just as effective in alleviating migraine headaches as the standard drug Methysergide. Lower doses proved not as effective. At the higher doses, reductions in the intensity and duration of migraines were observed. But again, further research needs to be done. -Does 5-HTP Work For Panic Attacks and to Beat Anxiety? It is thought that folks suffering from panic attacks, anxiety, or depression are experiencing a condition of reduced serotonin in the brain. Some doctors even treat panic attacks with a class of prescription drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include drugs such as Zoloft and Prozac. These drugs are designed to increase the level of serotonin in your brain and have even been prescribed to treat psychiatric conditions such as panic disorder, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is thought that 5-HTP also increases the brain chemical serotonin but without the side effects attributed to prescription drugs. -Does 5-HTP Increases Serotonin Levels As prescription drugs, SSRIs do have the ability to increase serotonin in the brain and in so doing help to alleviate symptoms of panic and anxiety. However, the side effects of some of these drugs, such as headaches, nausea, and mitigation of sexual function may not be desirable. In some cases it may be more desirable to consider the serotonin precursors such as 5-HTP for instance. The same serotonin benefits may be achieved without the unfortunate side effects of the SSRIs. -Will 5-HTP Can Alleviate Depression and Anxiety Using the success of the SSRIs for the alleviation of anxiety and depression, researchers have been studying the results of the serotonin precursors such as 5-HTP. Early European studies in the '80s showed that supplementation with 5-HTP resulted in a 50 to 60 percent improvement of patients with depression without the side effects that came along with the use of SSRIs. More recently a double blind, placebo study lasting 6 weeks and conducted in Switzerland with 60 participants, showed that 5-HTP exhibited the same positive results without the negative side effects as Prozac. -Does 5-HTP Alleviate Panic Attacks The recent study targeting 5-HTP and the alleviation of panic attack symptoms in folks suffering from panic disorder is a bit complicated. Again this was a placebo-controlled, double blind, randomized study and included 24 people with panic disorder. The study included 11 women and 13 men having an average age of 40. They were given either 200 mg of 5-HTP or a placebo and after 90 minutes were given what was called the 35% CO2 challenge. Of course the levels of anxiety and panic were measured both before and after the "challenge" using so called standardized tests. In summary, according to the researchers own words, panic symptoms and anxiety after inhaling CO2 was significantly reduced in the patients given the 5-HTP. Go figure. You also want to note that this calming effect happened in less than 2 hours as opposed to the 2 weeks or more that it takes for drugs such as Prozac to begin working. The social anxiety support site forum has some interesting posts: http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f56/5-htp-5-hydroxytryptophan-84151/
Can 5-HTP really lower my blood pressure? There are reports that say that 50 mg of 5-HTP has been shown to lower blood pressure after 6 weeks in conjunction with a high carbohydrate diet. A study conducted by Schwarz, Young, and Brown states that blood pressure was reduced by an average of 6 percent under these conditions. Of course they are assuming that one would combine the 5-HTP intake with a healthy diet and exercise regimen. As you know, a lowering of blood pressure and hypertension may lead to a lowering of heart disease. However, please do not rely on 5-HTP to lower you blood pressure due to the absence of definitive results. -I'm a Weight Lifter. Can I Use 5-HTP as a Growth Hormone? 5-HTP makes serotonin in your brain. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that signals to our brain that it is time to feel content and happy. Healthy levels of serotonin result in healthy levels of sleep. A good night sleep is one of the most important requirements of the recovery of our muscles after a hard workout. As a growth hormone - no. As an amino acid that will result in the rest and recovery of your muscles for further growth - yes. -Will 5-HTP Help My Dog? Veterinary Practice News in a recent issue covers dog aggression that responded to supplementation of 5-HTP. The 5-HTP was given in addition to a diet low in protein. Since low serotonin levels in the brain has been linked to aggression and mood abnormalities in humans, primates, and dogs, it is thought that supplementation of your dog's diet could be beneficial. Please be sure to check with your Veterinarian before giving 5-HTP to your pets. -What Are the Possible Risks or Side Effects of 5-HTP? One warning concerning the use of 5-HTP is what is called Peak-X. Peak-X is responsible the disorder called eosinophilic myalgia syndrome or EMS. EMS is a potentially fatal disorder that affects the skin, blood, muscles, and organs. Back in 1989 a contaminate called Peak-X was found in tryptophan supplements (remember that tryptophan makes 5-HTP). U.S. Food and Drug Administration yanked all tryptophan supplements off the market. Since tryptophan is produced by using bacterial fermentation and 5-HTP is produced from a seed from an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia), the two processes are separate and isolated. However, if you have concerns, please talk to your health care provider. -Possible Interactions With Prescription Drugs Again, please check with your health care provider before embarking on a regimen of 5-HTP. But if you are taking medications for depression, Parkinson's Disease, Fibromyalgia, or migraines please stop taking 5-HTP and see your health care provider. -Be Sure to Check With Your Health Care Provider As always, please check with your health care provider before taking any supplement covered on this site. Further Information: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/5-hydroxytryptophan-000283.htm http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21399 http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ans/psychology/health_psychology/5htp_myth.htm http://www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/apps/HealthGate/Article.aspx?chunkiid=21399
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