More about 5-HTP Benefits

WebMD: Information about uses and benefits of 5-HTP

5-HTP Benefits (from Nutritional Supplements Health Guide):

• 5-HTP and Insomnia. The relationship between 5-HTP and sleep (good sleep) has been well-established. In fact, 5 HTP supplement is seen to be better than melatonin in promoting good sleep and alleviating insomnia. It is able to increase the quality of sleep without hangover or drugged feelings which are usually present with sleeping pills and sedatives.
• 5-HTP and Depression. Many people have already enjoyed the benefits of 5-HTP against depression. It is reportedly as effective as anti-depressants in the treatment of mild to moderate depression.
• 5-HTP and Anxiety. Low serotonin levels can lead to abnormal anxiety. With HTP, there is a good chance for serotonin to go back to its natural level, so you can feel normal again.
• 5 HTP and Weight Loss. If you would like to lose weight, 5-HTP may do wonders for you as well. An appetite too healthy may be caused by low serotonin levels. Taking in 5-HTP can normalize these levels. At the same time, 5-htp supplements can decrease your food intake by creating a feeling of fullness. It also is able to increase the secretion of the hormone leptin (an appetite regulator) thus resulting to enhanced weight loss.
• 5 HTP and Bipolar Disorder. Clinical studies have shown the anti-depressant effect of 5HTP supplement for those suffering from bipolar II disorder. 5-HTP can alleviate and reduce to improve the general quality of life of bipolar sufferers.
• 5 HTP and Fibromyalgia. One of the major benefits of 5-HTP is the help that it gives for people with fibromyalgia. It helps improve sleep while at the same time reduce depression, pain, stiffness and anxiety - all of which are symptoms of this condition.
• 5 HTP and Headaches. 5-hydroxytryptophan supplement has also been used for treating chronic headaches such as tension headaches, juvenile headaches and migraine. These are conditions which may be related to low serotonin. 5-HTP has the ability to reduce the severity and frequency of these conditions, with fewer side effects compared to other chronic headache medications.

5-Hydroxytryptophan: A Clinically-Effective Serotonin Precursor

Birdsall TC.73541.2166@compuserve.com

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the intermediate metabolite of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (LT) in the biosynthesis of serotonin. Intestinal absorption of 5-HTP does not require the presence of a transport molecule, and is not affected by the presence of other amino acids; therefore it may be taken with meals without reducing its effectiveness. Unlike LT, 5-HTP cannot be shunted into niacin or protein production. Therapeutic use of 5-HTP bypasses the conversion of LT into 5-HTP by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, which is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of serotonin. 5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central nervous system (CNS) synthesis of serotonin. In the CNS, serotonin levels have been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation. Therapeutic administration of 5-HTP has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches, and insomnia.

5-Hydroxytryptophan rescues serotonin response to stress in prefrontal cortex of hyperphenylalaninaemic mice

Pascucci T, Andolina D, Mela IL, Conversi D, Latagliata C, Ventura R, Puglisi-Allegra S, Cabib S.

Dipartimento di Psicologia and Centro 'Daniel Bovet', 'Sapienza' University, Rome, Italy. tiziana.pascucci@uniroma1.it

Abstract

Adult early treated hyperphenylalaninaemic patients can show specific deficits of prefrontal cortical functions. The development of additional therapeutic strategies for these patients requires the understanding of the mechanisms involved in phenylalanine-dependent impairment of fronto-cortical functions. We tested the hypothesis of phenylalanine interference with aminergic neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex by evaluating, in vivo, amine release in adult Pah(enu2) mice, the genetic model of phenylketonuria. Mice of healthy background responded to a psychogenic stressor with the classic time-dependent increase of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin release from prefrontal cortical terminals. Neither the dopaminergic nor the serotoninergic responses were observable in the Pah(enu2) mice. Temporary reduction of circulating phenylalanine, by phenylalanine-free diet without amino- acid supplement, promoted recovery of the serotonin response only, demonstrating direct interference with serotonin synthesis in the mature brain. Evaluation of different steps of serotonin synthesis in the prefrontal cortex of hyperphenylalaninaemic mice demonstrated inhibition of cortical tryptophan hydroxylase activity. Finally, systemic administration of 5-hydroxytryptophan, the product of tryptophan hydroxylase activity, allowed frontal cortical serotonin response to stress in hyperphenylalaninaemic mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate that hyperphenylalaninaemia interferes with the ability of the mature prefrontal cortex to respond to psychological challenges, point to serotonin synthesis as the target of phenylalanine interference, and support the use of 5-hydroxytryptophan in lifelong treatment of hyperphenylalaninaemic subjects.

PMID: 19664307 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor.

Birdsall TC.

73541.2166@compuserve.com

Abstract

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the intermediate metabolite of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (LT) in the biosynthesis of serotonin. Intestinal absorption of 5-HTP does not require the presence of a transport molecule, and is not affected by the presence of other amino acids; therefore it may be taken with meals without reducing its effectiveness. Unlike LT, 5-HTP cannot be shunted into niacin or protein production. Therapeutic use of 5-HTP bypasses the conversion of LT into 5-HTP by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, which is the rate-limiting step in the synthesis of serotonin. 5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream. It easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central nervous system (CNS) synthesis of serotonin. In the CNS, serotonin levels have been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behaviour, and pain sensation. Therapeutic administration of5-HTP has been shown to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches, and insomnia.

PMID: 9727088 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]