Serotonin precursor, 5-HTP

5HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptamine, a chemical compound that occurs naturally in the body. It is synthesized from tryptophan and is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in many important brain functions. 5HTP is used as a supplement to increase serotonin levels and treat various health problems, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and obesity. 5HTP supplements are usually made from a plant called Griffonia simplicifolia, which contains high concentrations of the compound. 5HTP supplements are usually taken as capsules or oral tablets.

  • Origin: Nonessential, Plant Based, Synthetic
  • Source: Nonessential, Synthetic, Plants, Herbs
  • Type: Amino Acids
  • Age Range: Adults, Seniors
  • Toxicity: May be toxic in high doses
  • Outcomes: Sleep, Sleep Duration, Stress, Anxiety, Depression

What are 5-HTP benefits?

5HTP is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. It is considered an effective natural supplement for the treatment of anxiety, depression, and stress. It increases serotonin levels in the brain, which can help improve mood and reduce anxiety. It can also help treat mild to moderate depression. 5HTP is also used to treat REM sleep disorder and helps induce sleep. It can also help decrease the time it takes to fall asleep. In addition, 5HTP can help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraine headaches.

Table of relations

Health goal
Sub-health goal
Consistent effects
Strength of effects
Scientific articles

5-HTP and Sleep

Sleep is a very important physiological process, as it regulates the body's functions. It is responsible for promoting / facilitating energy conservation, synthesis and secretion of hormones and proteins, learning and memory through brain changes. Sleep is mainly driven by the circadian cycle, which involves exposure to light, hormones such as melatonin, and hypothalamic activity. The compounds that help regulate sleep work in different pathways, they can facilitate the process of falling asleep, increase the duration of continuous sleep or improve the quality of sleep.

  • Sleep Duration

    Sleep duration refers to the total amount of sleep obtained, either during the nightly sleep episode or during the 24 hours. Getting a full, uninterrupted sleep can be difficult and is considered a disorder, but there are natural solutions that can help.

5-HTP and Anxiety

Anxiety is the body's natural response to stress. It's a feeling of fear or apprehension about what's to come. It can be triggered by a specific situation and not last long - which is very common and ok - or it can be a generalized disorder (which is considered a illness) that can bring harm to everyday life and also cause other conditions like depression.

5-HTP and Stress

Stress can be understood as a situation in which the individual is physically or mentally overloaded, which can cause pain, tension and physical injury, as well as emotional fatigue, tiredness, reduced productivity and attention. The substances that help control stress act on hormonal regulation (for example, cortisol), on the circadian cycle and promote physical and mental relaxation.

5-HTP and Depression

Depression is a chronic and recurrent psychiatric condition that produces mood changes characterized by deep sadness, mood swings, loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life.

Table of negative interactions

Drugs
Amoxapine, Citalopram, Clomipramine, Desvenlafaxine, Milnacipran, Nefazodone, Phenelzine, Procarbazine, Propoxyphene, Sibutramine, Sumatriptan, Almotriptan, Amitriptyline, Cyclobenzaprine, Desipramine, Dexfenfluramine, Dihydroergotamine, Dolasetron, Doxepin, Doxepin Topical, Duloxetine, Eletriptan, Escitalopram, Fenfluramine, Fentanyl, Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Frovatriptan, Furazolidone, Granisetron, Imipramine, Isocarboxazid, Lasmiditan, Levomilnacipran, Linezolid, Lorcaserin, Maprotiline, Methylene Blue, Mirtazapine, Naratriptan, Nortriptyline, Ondansetron, Palonosetron, Paroxetine, Protriptyline, Rasagiline, Rizatriptan, Safinamide, Selegiline, Sertraline, Tapentadol, Tramadol, Tranylcypromine, Trazodone, Trimipramine, Venlafaxine, Vilazodone, Vortioxetine, Zolmitriptan
Foods
Beans, Lentils and Chickpeas, Cheese, Fish, Milk, Yogurt

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References

5HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptamine, a chemical compound that occurs naturally in the body. It is synthesized from tryptophan and is a precursor to serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in many important brain functions. 5HTP is used as a supplement to increase serotonin levels and treat various health problems, including depression, anxiety, insomnia, and obesity. 5HTP supplements are usually made from a plant called Griffonia simplicifolia, which contains high concentrations of the compound. 5HTP supplements are usually taken as capsules or oral tablets.