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Feeling moody, restless, and anxious? Don’t let life’s pressures influence your health and happiness. You may find greater nutritional support to benefit stress, sleep, mood, and calm eating behaviors with 5-HTP, a highly absorbable amino acid that easily bypasses the blood-brain barrier to support serotonin levels in the brain. NUTRAscriptives® 5-HTP is Peak-X Free making supplementation a safe and effective way to help manage life’s demands.
 

Description

5-HTP is a natural compound that comes from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia trees mainly found in West Africa. As an intermediate L-tryptophan metabolite, 5-HTP is easily absorbed to support serotonin levels (70% of oral 5-HTP enters the blood stream).[i] NUTRAscriptives® 5-HTP is sourced from a European extractor that ensures high standards for safe supplementation.

Research

Mood Balance

Low serotonin levels are significantly related to a low, sad mood. Supplementing with 5-HTP stimulates the production of serotonin in the brain to enhance mood. A Swiss study compared the administration of 5-HTP with fluvoxamine (an SSRI used to enhance mood) among 36 subjects over six weeks. Researchers found both treatment groups had similar results with a 50% improvement in mood;[2] therefore, 5-HTP can be a safe alternative to other mood enhancers.

Several studies were conducted in Europe in the late 1970's and early 1980's finding 5-HTP enhanced mood.[3],[4],[5] Overall, the studies found 5-HTP had a positive effect on balancing mood among 55%-60% of patients, while there was no improvement in the placebo groups.

Sleep Disturbances

A study conducted by the University of Rome found 5-HTP reduced night terrors in children. Forty-five children participated in the study finding 93.5% of the treatment group had a reduced amount of night terrors after one-month in the treatment group, while 83.9% were night terror-free after six-months of treatment.[6]

Chronic Tension Headaches

A double-blind study recruited 65 patients with headaches finding subjects that took 5-HTP supplementation used less pain relievers and had a reduction in the number of headaches after two weeks of treatment, in comparison to the placebo group.[7]

Another study compared 5-HTP to Propranolol (a beta-blocker used to treat headaches) among 39 patients in a double-blind trial. Researchers found a significant reduction in headaches among both the 5-HTP and Propranolol groups over a four-month period suggesting 5-HTP is a safe alternative to other therapies.[8]

Weight Management

Over 35 years of research has shown 5-HTP is an effective source for appetite control.[9] One study found an increase in serotonin levels reduced carbohydrate cravings and curbed the appetite of 20 obese patients participating in a six-week, double-blind study.[10]

Research has shown 5-HTP is an effective treatment for individuals with blood sugar problems, as they usually have low brain serotonin levels. A two-week, double-blind study of 20 overweight subjects with insulin weaknesses found oral 5-HTP normalized eating behaviors and reduced excessive energy intake.[11] In addition, 5-HTP can reduce excessive food consumption that can be generated by anxiety.[12]

Additional Information – Dosage & Interactions

Suggested Use

As a dietary supplement, take one capsule daily, or as directed by a physician.

Dosage

Up to 300 mg in three divided doses per day. Do not exceed 900 mg per day.

As part of weight loss programs, it is recommended that 5-HTP be taken 20 minutes before each meal, to act as a natural appetite suppressant and reduce the craving for carbohydrates. Start at 100 mg three times per day. If after four weeks the desired results are not achieved, increase the dosage to 200 mg three times per day.

Precautions

The maximum safe dosage of this supplement has not been determined for children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe liver or kidney disease. As with all supplement regimens, please consult your physician prior to use.

5-HTP should be avoided by pregnant women, nursing mothers, individuals under 18 years old, and those with significant cardiovascular disease or medical conditions. 5-HTP has been reported to occasionally cause gastrointestinal upset in higher doses.

Drug Interactions

Consult your physician before supplementing with 5-HTP if you are taking the following medications.

Anti-depressants (SSRIs, MAOIs, or sedatives); Carbidopa (drug for Parkinson's disease), as it increases drug activity.

In addition, 5-HTP can exceedingly increase the effects of tryptophan, St. John's Wort, and SAMe. Vitamin B6 taken in doses of 5 mg or greater causes 5-HTP to be converted into serotonin before it passes into the brain. Since serotonin does not easily pass the blood-brain barrier as 5-HTP does, this effect is undesirable and can be detrimental. Although, there are no reports of high doses of 5-HTP causing serotonin syndrome, 5-HTP may significantly increase serotonin serum levels leading to this undesirable effect.

*Statements made herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

References

[i] Birdsall, TC. 5-hydroxytryptophan: a clinically- effective serotonin precursor. Altern Med Rev. 1998; 3:271-280.

[2] Poldinger, W, Calanchini, B, Schwarz ,W. A functional-dimensional approach to depression: serotonin deficiency as a target syndrome in a comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan and fluvoxamine. Psychopathology. 1991;24:53-81.

[3] Van Praag, HM, Korf, J, Dols, LC, Schut, T. A pilot study of the predictive value of the probenecid test in application of 5-hydroxytryptophan as antidepressant. Psychopharmacologia. 1972;25:14-21.

[4] Van Praag HM. Central monamine metabolism in depression. II. Comp Psychiat. 1980; 21:44-54.

[5] Van Praag HM. Management of depression with serotonin precursors. Biol Psychiatry. 1981;16:291-310.

[6] Bruni, O, Ferri, R, Miano, S, Verillo, E. L -5-Hydroxytryptophan treatment of sleep terrors in children. Eur J Pediatr. 2004; 163(7):402-407.

[7] Ribeiro, CA. L- 5-hydroxytryptophan in the prophylaxis of chronic tension-type headache : A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. For the Portugese Head Study. Headache, 2000; 40:451-456.

[8] Maissen CP, et al. Comparison of the effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan and propranolol in the interval treatment of migraine. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1991; 121:1585-1590.

[9] Halford, JC, Harraold, JA, Boyland, EJ, Lawton, CL, Blundell, JE. Serotonergic drugs: Effects on appetite expression and use for the treatment of obesity. Drugs. 2007; 67(1):27-55.

[10] Cangiano, C, Ceci, F, Cascino, A, et al. Eating behavior and adherence to dietary prescriptions in obese adult subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Nov; 56(5):863-867.

[11] Cangiano, C, Laviano, A, Del Ben, M, et al. Effects of oral 5-hydroxy-tryptophan on energy intake and macronutrient selection in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1998 Jul; 22(7):648-654.

[12] Amer, A, Breu, J, McDermott, J, et al. 5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan suppresses food intake in food-deprived and stressed rats. Pharm Biochem and Behavior. 2004 Jan; 77(1):137-143.