How does 5htp work

These are third-party companies that ensure supplements contain what they claim on the label, without impurities. Some people may experience side effects when taking 5-HTP supplements. These supplements are not the same as L-tryptophan supplements , which may also increase serotonin levels L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in protein-rich foods, such as dairy products, poultry, meat, chickpeas and soybeans.

On the other hand, 5-HTP is not present in foods and can only be added to your diet through a supplement Your body converts 5-HTP into serotonin, a substance that regulates appetite, pain sensations and sleep. Higher serotonin levels may provide many benefits, such as promoting weight loss, improving the symptoms of depression and fibromyalgia, decreasing the frequency of migraine attacks and helping you sleep better. Minor side effects have been linked to 5-HTP, but they can be minimized by starting with smaller doses and increasing the dosage gradually.

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Dopamine and serotonin amino acid precursor administration must be in proper balance. If only 5-HTP or 5-HTP that dominates dopamine at the enzyme is administered, it will block dopamine synthesis at the AAAD enzyme through competitive inhibition, leading to depletion of dopamine and the rest of the catecholamines. Metabolism of serotonin and dopamine is catalyzed by monoamine oxidase MAO.

The activity level of MAO is not static. Without a properly balanced increase in dopamine there will be increased metabolism of dopamine leading to depletion. The synthesis, metabolism, and transport of serotonin and dopamine, along with their amino acid precursors, are primarily controlled by the functional status of transport, which is carried out by organic cation transporters OCT.

Serotonin, dopamine, and their amino acid precursors must be transported by OCT across cell walls. Transport dominates, controls and regulates synthesis and metabolism.

Administration of 5-HTP alone leads to increased unbalanced transport of serotonin. Competitive inhibition at the transporters will inhibit movement of dopamine and its precursors into areas that affect synthesis and metabolism, compromising and depleting dopamine catecholamine levels. Long-term administration of 5-HTP alone, or in an unbalanced manner, facilitates depletion of catecholamines, negatively affecting neurotransmitter-related disease processes. A literature review revealed that more studies have been reported using 5-HTP in combination with another substance than using 5-HTP alone due to the lack of efficacy of 5-HTP alone.

One combination examined includes the use of 5-HTP with carbidopa. Carbidopa inhibits peripheral conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin and l -dopa to dopamine. Additionally, a previous study reported that in animals 5-HTP caused increased turnover of both dopamine and norepinephrine.

They hypothesized that 5-HTP is taken up by catecholaminergic neurons, transformed into 5-HT that, in turn, could act as a false transmitter, possibly increasing the turnover of catecholamines. In other words, it is unknown whether 5-HTP augments or reduces catecholaminergic neuronal functions.

Serotonin and dopamine systems exist in two distinctly different and separate states. The endogenous state occurs when no supplemental amino acid precursors Figure 1 are administered. The competitive inhibition state occurs when at least one serotonin and one dopamine amino acid precursor Figure 1 are administered simultaneously.

In the unbalanced state, amino acid precursors of serotonin or dopamine dominate the opposite system in synthesis, metabolism, and transport, leading to depletion of nondominant monoamine neurotransmitters Figure 2. Sulfur amino acids may deplete dopamine. Sulfur amino acids may deplete serotonin. Amino acid precursors of serotonin and dopamine in the competitive inhibition state are intertwined during synthesis, metabolism, and transport to the point that they function as one system.

This is a deep-seated interaction as discussed in the novel concept of apical regulatory super system APRESS , published in The paper discusses how the serotonin and dopamine systems, when properly balanced in the competitive inhibition state, function as one system. In this state, functions regulated only by serotonin in the endogenous state can be regulated by manipulating dopamine levels, and functions regulated only by dopamine in the endogenous state can be regulated by manipulating serotonin.

Most importantly, if only one precursor of the serotonin and dopamine system is administered or it is administered in a manner that dominates the other system either serotonin or dopamine in synthesis, metabolism and transport, neurotransmitter depletion of the dominated system will occur. When this depletion of the nondominant system is great enough, any effects observed with administration of the single or dominant amino acid will no longer be observed.

A study involving properly balanced serotonin and dopamine amino acid precursor dosing values guided by MTO published in and documents that administration of properly balanced serotonin and dopamine precursors is not only highly effective for managing depression, but can also be used to differentiate bipolar depression cycling heavily on the depressive pole from unipolar depression major affective disorder. To achieve optimal efficacy, minimal side effects, and prevent depletion of other amino acids and neurotransmitters, 5-HTP must be administered in proper balance with dopamine amino acid precursors along with proper levels of sulfur amino acids.

Synthesis and metabolism are controlled by transporter function. Transporters move serotonin, dopamine and their amino acid precursors into and out of cells to sites where synthesis and metabolism occur. MTO is an in situ method for determining the functional status of OCT responsible for establishing serotonin and dopamine levels throughout the body. Optimization requires establishing serotonin in the Phase 3 optimal range while dopamine is in its Phase 3 optimal range.

The Phase 3 optimal ranges of serotonin and dopamine are independent of one another. When both serotonin and dopamine are in their respective phase 3 optimal ranges, optimization has occurred.

Optimal group results cannot be obtained without MTO. The following are group effective therapeutic ranges defined by MTO during simultaneous administration of serotonin and dopamine precursors:.

The effective therapeutic ranges listed above are independent of each other. For example, in one patient, a daily 5-HTP dosing value of 2, mg per day with an l -dopa dosing value of 30 mg per day may be required for proper balance of transport to place both serotonin and dopamine in their respective Phase 3 optimal ranges. Another patient may require 25 mg per day of 5-HTP with 2, mg of l -dopa for Phase 3 optimization. Dosing values required for transporter optimization are highly individualized.

To understand the extreme variability in the dosing levels of 5-HTP and the other amino acid precursors, it is important to understand why these transporters react so differently from one individual to the next.

Neurotransmitters facilitate the flow of electric signals across the synapse between the pre- and post-synaptic neurons. When a change in the overall flow of electricity across the synapse is needed, a signal is sent throughout the body that encodes the identical transporters to regulate and control neurotransmitter flow in the specific manner required to optimize this flow.

It is a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin and the hormone melatonin. The supplements have become popular because it is thought that providing the body with 5-HTP in pill form can boost the body's serotonin levels, similar to the antidepressants that are thought to increase the amount of serotonin available to the brain. In alternative medicine, 5-HTP supplements are purported to help in the treatment of conditions including:. So far, scientific support for the claim that 5-HTP can treat any condition safely and effectively is lacking.

Several small clinical trials have found that 5-HTP is as effective as antidepressants. The 5-HTP was found to be as effective as the antidepressant, with fewer side effects. The small study that did meet the quality criteria found that 5-HTP worked better than placebo at alleviating depression. Another study looked at 5-HTP or the drug propranolol for 4 months. However, the propranolol group fared better, with a reduction in the duration of episodes and the number of analgesics used for the treatment of episodes.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by fatigue, widespread pain in the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, and multiple tender points. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study looked at 5-HTP or placebo in 50 people with fibromyalgia.

Side effects were mild and transient. Serotonin is converted into melatonin, a hormone needed to regulate sleep-wake cycles. Because 5-HTP is thought to increase serotonin levels, it may increase melatonin and help normalize sleep patterns.

Potential side effects of 5-HTP include nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. Rarely, allergic reaction to the supplement may occur. Children with Down's syndrome should not take 5-HTP. Peak x had been previously associated with the supplement tryptophan, which is made into 5-HTP in the body. Tryptophan was taken off the market when thousands of people developed a severe blood disorder called Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome EMS.

The cause was later traced to a contaminant found only in batches of tryptophan manufactured by one Japanese company, Showa Denko. Some reports suggest that purity may be a potential problem for 5-HTP as well. Such reports prompted the FDA to ban the sale of all tryptophan supplements in Side effects of 5-HTP are generally mild and may include nausea, heartburn, gas, feelings of fullness, and rumbling sensations in some people. At high doses, serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition caused by too much serotonin in the body, could develop.

Talk to your provider before taking higher-than-recommended doses. People with liver disease, pregnant women, and women who are breastfeeding should not take 5-HTP. If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use 5-HTP without first talking to your health care provider.

People who are taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-HTP without their provider's supervision. These medications could combine with 5-HTP to cause serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition involving mental changes, hot flashes, rapidly fluctuating blood pressure and heart rate, and possibly coma. Some antidepressant medications that can interact with 5-HTP include:. Taking 5-HTP with carbidopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson disease, may cause a scleroderma-like illness.

Scleroderma is a condition where the skin becomes hard, thick, and inflamed. Tramadol, used for pain relief, and sometimes prescribed for people with fibromyalgia, may raise serotonin levels too much if taken with 5-HTP. Serotonin syndrome has been reported in some people taking the two together. Taking 5-HTP with dextromethorphan, found in cough syrups, may cause serotonin levels to increase to dangerous levels, a condition called serotonin syndrome.

Taking 5-HTP with Demerol may cause serotonin levels to increase to dangerous levels, a condition called serotonin syndrome. The treatment of depression with Lhydroxytryptophan versus imipramine.

Results of two open and one double-blind study. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr. Treatment of insomnia: an alternative approach. Altern Med Rev. Birdsall TC. J Clin Psychopharmacol. Effects of oral 5-hydroxy-tryptophan on energy intake and macronutrient selection in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Eating behavior and adherence to dietary prescriptions in obese adult subjects treated with 5-hydroxytryptophan. J Clin Nutr. Double-blind study of 5-hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in the treatment of primary fibromyalgia syndrome.

J Int Med Res. Dietary supplements used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Lippincotts Prim Care Pract. The effects of oral 5-hydroxytryptophan administration on feeding behavior in obese adult female subjects. J Neural Transm. The potential of 5-hydroxytryptophan for hot flash reduction: a hypothesis.