(5-HTP) and how it affects the human

by Vohn Watts

This paper will explore the affects of

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on the human body and will demonstrate the process of how 5-HTP eventually turns into serotonin. It will discuss how it can help depression, obesity, insomnia, chronic headaches, anxiety, and fibromyalgia. The following will discuss 5-HTP and its link to serotonin and how it increases the serotonin levels to help with the remediation of the previously listed ailments. It will refer to studies and trials that have been conducted, revealing the possible benefits as well as the possible side affects.

5-HTP is the result of hydroxylation by the naturally produced amino acid L-tryptophan (LT) [1,2,3,5]. Tryptophan is the least common of the eight essential amino acids and has a small percentage of protein content [5]. Tryptophan is then transported through the bloodstream to the central nervous system by way of a transport molecule, at which time it hydroxylates about one percent into 5-HTP [1,5]. 5-HTP is then converted into serotonin by an "aromatic amino acid decarboxylase enzyme, which is vitamin B6 dependent" [1,5]. The interesting part about 5-HTP is that when introduced to the body orally, it travels through the bloodstream and does not require a transport molecule to reach the central nervous system and is unaffected by the presence of other amino acids [3,5]. When introduced orally, the body directly converts it into serotonin and it is not broken down.

Depression is a major issue in our society and doctors first started clinically testing 5-HTP in its treatment as far back as the early 1970’s. Sano conducted the first of these trials in 1972 [3]. There were 107 patients with various types of depression being given an oral dosage of 5-HTP [3]. From this trial there was a 69% improvement rate among patients with no significant side affects reported [3]. The interesting fact discovered in this trial was that the majority of the patients saw a rather quick response to the 5-HTP. Normal anti-depressants usually take four weeks or longer to show improvements, whereas 5-HTP regiment was able to accomplish this in as quickly as two-weeks. As a matter of fact, with the many trials that were conducted since the 1970’s, it has been proven that 5-HTP when compared to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) antidepressant drugs show very similar results in the treatment of individuals with mild to moderate depression [1,3]. It is important to note that one trial did show those with extreme cases of depression. It suggests that these types of cases may actually require the body to go through the conversion process of LT to 5-HTP and that the introduction of 5-HTP to the body orally would not be sufficient in the treatment of those individuals [3]. When taking into consideration these trials, it is hard to comprehend why a person with a depression problem, that is not an extreme case, would choose to take a synthetic antidepressant drug when there is a natural alternative which produces similar and in some cases better results.

Obesity is another area in which the boost of serotonin levels can help a person loose weight. What do the serotonin levels of a person have to do with them being overweight? While a person is dieting, they will demonstrate a decrease in serotonin levels as a result [3]. These low serotonin levels cause carbohydrate cravings and can in some cases lead to binge eating [3]. So the obvious answer to the question above is by introducing 5-HTP to a person who is dieting, you can increase the serotonin levels, which in turn could help to prevent those cravings [3]. The University of Rome conducted a double-blind placebo controlled study in order to verify these theories. During this twelve-week trial, the placebo group showed no significant weight loss, nor did they show any real decline in calorie intake. On the other hand the group that was taking the 5-HTP did in fact show significant weight loss. They also showed an almost 1400 calorie decrease in their diets, and a 50% decrease in their carbohydrate intake [3]. The final resolve from this trial was that even without a dietary restriction, the theory was proven that 5-HTP would decrease "carbohydrate cravings and binge eating" [3]. This is not a weight loss remedy and does not suggest that by taking this pill a person will just start losing weight. It does suggest however, that it will boost the serotonin levels which in turn will decrease those unwanted carbohydrate cravings. 5-HTP would definitely be beneficial when used in combination with exercise and healthy eating to lose those unwanted pounds.

The remaining ailments to discuss can be found in most cases of those people with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). A person with fibromyalgia suffers from fatigue, areas of tenderness, anxiety, and sleeping problems. Those with FMS have been found to have a lower amount of serotonin levels and there have been studies that have shown a decrease in these symptoms when using an SSRI antidepressant drug [3,5]. In a double-blind placebo controlled study, 5-HTP improved the symptoms related to FMS [5]. After a 90-day study, 5-HTP improved "anxiety, pain intensity, quality of sleep, fatigue, and number of tender points" [5].

Chronic headaches or migraines are considered by some to be a direct result of low serotonin levels. 5-HTP has been used in the treatment of these headaches and there were two different trials conducted that will be discussed. The first of these trials included FMS patients whom also suffered from headaches. These patients were treated for a twelve-month period during which time they kept a daily pain diary [3]. The results showed a greater progress in the decrease of chronic headaches over the placebo. The second trial was conducted for a group of junior high and high school students whom only suffered from chronic headaches and did not have FMS [3]. This trial displayed a 70% decrease in those that were taking 5-HTP as opposed to only an 11% decrease for those on the placebo [3].

It is always good to see the benefits of a product, especially one that shows it can truly help in the prevention of certain ailments that can be life hindering. The other side of the coin is always discussed in any drug commercial, showing the side affects that their product might have on an individual. So then the question arises, is the upside of helping your current problem worth the risk of possibly creating a whole new problem? In order to answer this question, it must first be shown what the potential side affects of 5-HTP might be. There have been many different trials done with 5-HTP to see its affects on many different ailments that seem to have the commonality of low serotonin levels found in those patients. Of these trials, it is apparent that the only major side affects revealed as a result of taking 5-HTP was nausea. It was then discovered that taking 5-HTP with a meal helped to curb that symptom, at the same time not inhibiting the effectiveness of the treatment.

There are many schools of thought on how well natural remedies stand up to synthetic drugs. When a trial is done and the results demonstrate an equal benefit from natural and synthetic, it would seem the obvious choice would be to go natural. Obviously there are many people out there that claim they have a natural cure for all sorts of things and often time with very little or no research to back the claim. 5-HTP is a natural alternative that also has thirty years of medical research and trials to prove its capabilities. The studies do demonstrate that by taking 5-HTP orally, it can help with depression, obesity, and the symptoms of fibromyalgia.

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