- Nutritionally supplies the immediate metabolic precursor to Serotonin.
- Dietary supplementation may enhance levels of:
- Serotonin.
- Melatonin.
- Catecholamines.
- Endorphins.
- May positively enhance mood.
- May enhance the sleep cycle.
- May reduce discomfort in patients with chronic pain.
- May regulate feeding patterns and have positive bariatric (weight management) effects.
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the immediate precursor in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5 HT or serotonin). 5-HT is synthesized from the amino acid L-tryptophan. 5-HTP has replaced the use of L-tryptophan in the United States. In 1989 patients taking L-tryptophan developed a negative and debilitating reaction called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. Upon further study it was determined that the culprit was not the L-tryptophan but a bacterial contaminate in the formula. All L-tryptophan products associated with the syndrome were found to come from genetically modified bacterial recombinant production methods. Even though L- tryptophan was proven to be safe, it never recovered from this incident. 5-HTP was created to fill the gap created by the removal of L-tryptophan from the marketplace.
Small amounts of 5-HTP, as well as serotonin, are found in bananas, tomatoes, plums, avocados, eggplant, walnuts and pineapples. A common commercial source of 5-HTP is Griffonia simplicfolia, a relative to carob.
5-HTP’s possible pain reduction benefit comes from its conversion to serotonin and to the observed effect of raising beta-endorphin and platelet met-enkephalin levels.
Serum leptin levels increased following 5-HTP injection in mice. This may explain 5-HTP’s beneficial effect on weight management. Additionally, 5-HTP has been shown to reduce carbohydrate intake.
Contraindications:
- Patients on MAOIs (approved 2 weeks after discontinuation).
- Patients with carcinoid tumors.
- Should not be used concurrently with medications such as: SSRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, MAOIs.
- Should not be used concurrently with serotonin 5-HT1 receptor agonists including naratriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan.
- Patients with ischemic heart disease (Hx of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, documented silent ischemia).
- Patients with history of coronary artery spasm.
- Uncontrolled hypertension.
- Pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Side effects:
Due to excessive serotonin
production could include:
Nausea, diarrhea, loss of appetite,
vomiting, difficult breathing, dilation
of pupils, exaggerated reflexes, loss
of muscle coordination, blurring of
vision and cardiac dysrythmias.
Note:
Carbidopa may increase 5-HTP
transport across the blood brain
barrier due to decreased peripheral
5-HTP metabolism.
Methyldopa inhibits conversion of
5-HTP to serotonin.
These statements have not been evaluated by
the Food and Drug Administration. These
products are not intended to diagnose, treat,
cure, or prevent any disease.
References:
PDR for Nutritional Supplements, 1st Ed. Medical
Economics/Thomson Healthcare. 2001.
Byerley WF, Judd LL, Reimherr FW, et al. 5-Hydroxytryptophan:
a review of its antidepressant efficacy and
adverse effects. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987;
7:127-137.
Cangiano C, Ceci F, Cascino A, et al. Eating behavior
and adherance to dietary prescriptions in obese adult
subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan. Am J Clin
Nutr. 1992; 56:863-867.
Caruso I, Sarzi Puttini P, Cazzola M, Azzolini V.
Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus
placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia
syndrome. J Int med Res. 1990; 18:201-209.
Ceci F, Cangiano C, Cairella M, et al. The effects of
oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding
behavior in obese adult female subjects. J Neural
Transm. 1989; 76:109-117.
Genazzani AR, Sandrini G Facchinetti F, et al. Effects
of L-5HTP with and without carbidopa on plasma betaendorphin
and pain perception. Possible implications in
migraine prophylaxis. Cephalgia. 1986; 6:241-245.
Ribeiro CA. L-5-Hydroxytryptophan in the prophylaxis
of chronic tension-type headache: a double-blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled study. For the
Portuguese Head Study. Headache. 2000; 40:451-
456.
Yamada J, Ujikawa M, Sugimoto Y. Serum leptin levels
after central and systemic injection of a serotonin
precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan, in mice. Eur J
Pharmacol. 2000; 406:159-162.
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