Added by popular demand, Designs for Health have now created a higher dose 5HTP product with 100 mg per capsule as well as increasing the Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (activated B-6) to 20 mg per capsule. Our modern, stressful lives lower levels of the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin depletion leads to food cravings, depression, and other mood disorders. The pharmaceutical industry has responded to the serotonin crisis by creating a wide array of medications which seek to restore serotonin metabolism. A better approach may be to replete serotonin naturally by using its precursor, 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP). Naturally restoring serotonin levels may help promote healthy mood levels and may also reduce food cravings.*Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate (P5P), the activated form of vitamin B6, is included in this formula to support overall neurotransmitter metabolism.
Serving Size: 60 Capsules
Each Capsule contains:
Vitamin B6 (as Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate).......20 mg
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan).......100 mg
Other Ingredients: Rice powder, magnesium stearate.
Recommended Use:
As a dietary supplement, take one capsule per day or as directed by your health care practitioner.
Store In A Cool, Dry Place. Keep Out Of Reach Of Children.
WARNING: Not recommneded for use by pregnant or lactating women, or if you are taking SSRIs or MAO inhibitors.
This product does not contain wheat, soy protein, corn, dairy, or preservatives.
Read Customer questions and answers about Mental Health in our FAQ.
5 HTP may be helpful for:
Excessive appetite
Binge Eating
Carbohydrate Cravings
Obesity
Headaches
Migraines
Insomnia
Fibromyalgia
Depression
Bipolar Disorder
Poor Digestion
Hot Flashes
Rheumatoid Arthritis
What is 5 HTP?
5 Hydroxytryptophan, made from the amino acid L-tryptophan with the help of Vitamin B6, is a precursor to serotonin production. The amino acid tryptophan can be found naturally in protein foods such as turkey and milk. Serotonin is a very important neurotransmitter known as "the feel good hormone". In the Central Nervous System (CNS), serotonin has been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation.
Why should I consider 5-HTP supplementation?
All serotonin used by brain cells must be made within the neurons, since serotonin cannot cross the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, the synthesis of serotonin is heavily dependent upon the availability of L-tryptophan within the CNS.
The production and transport of L-Tryptophan from the bloodstream into the CNS can be compromised by several factors including ostress, elevated cortisol levels, vitamin B6 deficiency, and even high dosages (above 2,000 mg) of L-Tryptophan, which all stimulate the conversion of L-Tryptophan to kynurenine, lowering serum tryptophan levels.1-3o
According to research, 5 HTP allows for weight loss without dieting, reduces appetite, reduces cravings for carbohydrates, improves mood, helps diabetics to stay on their diets, improves fibromyalgia symptoms, frequency and severity of headaches and even helps protein digestion.
How does 5 HTP help those with Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes is associated with depressed tryptophan levels and as a result, higher incidence of depression. Diabetics also suffer from hyperphagia and carbohydrate cravings. In a study where 20 overweight sufferers with NIDDM were given 750 mg/day of 5 HTP or placebo for two weeks, daily energy intake decreased considerably. Carbohydrate and fat intake were both reduced. Body weight reduced as well without dietary restriction.5 The conclusion of this study was: "These data confirm the role of the serotonergic system in reducing energy intake, by predominantly inhibiting carbohydrate intake, and suggest that 5-HTP may be safely utilized to improve the compliance to dietary prescriptions in NIDDM."
5 Int J Obes Relat Metab Disor 1998 July;22(7):648-54
Effects of oral 5-hydroxy-tryptophan on energy intake and macronutrient selection in non-insulin dependent diabetic individuals.
Is 5-HTP safe?
5-HTP is available OTC, whereas the FDA no longer allows L-tryptophan to be sold OTC. Where L-Tryptophan is synthesized from bacteria, allowing for contamination, 5-HTP is made from a plant from the seeds of the African plant, Griffonia simplicifolia. L-Tryptophan supplements have been available only by prescription since the 1989 contamination catastrophe.
5 HTP is well absorbed
5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream.5,6 Absorption of 5-HTP 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. Click here to download 5-HTP PDF File
Click here to download "Support Neurotransmitter Production" PDF File
Hot Flashes
Doctor’s noticed that SSRI’s caused a reduction in hot flashes. Researchers looked into this while proposing the mechanism is related to an increase in serotonin allowing for an increase in the set point of the brain's thermoregulator . Thus, increased serotonin levels may have the ability to decrease hot flashes in a mechanism similar to that of SSRIs without the risks of breast cell stimulation. This would be particularly desirable for menopausal women with breast cancer or with risks of breast cancer.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid sufferers have lower tryptophan levels than non-rheumatoid sufferers. They also have an increased excretion of the tryptophan metabolites xanthurenic acid, kynurenine and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid. You may be interested to know that individuals with vitiligo and scleroderma have blocks in tryptophan metabolism as well.
Research Review:
The effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior in obese adult female subjects. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1998 Jul;22(7):648-54.
19 obese females with BMI's between 30-40. Double-blind crossover study aimed to evaluate the effects of 5 HTP on feeding behavior, mood state and weight loss.
Eating behavior and adherence to dietary prescriptions in obese adult subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan.
Am J Clin Nutr 1992;56:863-867.
Purpose of study: To verify whether adherence to dietary restriction could be improved by 5-HTP (900 mg/day) vs. a placebo.
Study design: Double-blinded - 2 consecutive 6 week periods. No dietary restriction first 6 weeks. Calories were controlled in the second period.
Studies show that 5 HTP's effectiveness is comparable to SSRI's like Prozac
Also gets results similar to the tricyclic antidepressants like Elavil.
Primary fibromyalgia syndrome is characterized by general musculo-skeletal aching, multiple tender points, fatigue, morning stiffness, and sleep disturbances. Fibromyalgia sufferers have been found to have low serotonin and tryptophan levels, and some studies have shown symptomatic improvement with the use of tricyclic and SSRI antidepressants. These findings suggest 5-HTP might be useful in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Clinical trials have demonstrated significant improvement in symptoms, including pain, morning stiffness, anxiety, and fatigue 5-HTP has been shown to be beneficial in treating insomnia, especially in improving sleep quality by increasing REM sleep.
Soulairac A, Lambinet H. Effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan, a serotonin precursor, on sleep disorders. Ann Med Psychol 1977;1:792- 798.2.
Guilleminault C, Cathala JP, Castaigne P. Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on sleep of a individual with a brain-stem lesion. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1973;34:177-184. 3.
Wyatt RJ, Zarcone V, Engelman K, et al. Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on the sleep of normal human subjects. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 1971;30:505-509.
5-HTP has been used successfully in the prevention of chronic headaches of various types, including migraine, tension headaches, and juvenile headaches. Ann Surg 1977 Aug;186(2):130-5
The effect of serotonin on pepsin inhibition by duodenal fat. The purpose was to evaluate the possible role of serotonin on pepsin secretion.
The results of our study suggest that serotonin increases pepsin production as follows:
1. Reserpine is a drug that depletes serotonin stores and Pretreatment with reserpine abolished the stimulatory effect of histamine on pepsin secretion.
2. Pretreatment with a serotonin blocking agent augmented the pepsin inhibition induced by the intraduodenal infusion of fat.
3. 5-hydroxytryptophan (serotonin precursor) caused a significant stimulation of pepsin secretion.
The mode of action of serotonin is probably by a direct hormonal action on the gastric chief cells.
Behavioral, neuroendocrine and biochemical effects of different doses of 5-HTP in panic disorder. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 1996 May;6(2):103-10
Purpose: To investigate the role of serotonin in the pathophysiology of panic disorder (PD)
7 individuals suffering from PD and 7 healthy controls Received an IV challenge with 10 mg, 20 mg and 40 mg 5-HTP and placebo in random order on 4 different occasions.
Conclusion: "Stimulation of the serotonergic neuronal system by three different dosages of 5 HTP did not induce panic or anxiety in PD pts and healthy controls." Other Sources:
- Metabolic Abnormalities Of Tryptophan And Nicotinic Acid In individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis.
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Tryptophan metabolism in individuals with vitiligo.
- Tryptophan-load in progressive scleroderma
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