What is that
5-HTP - or 5-hydroxytryptophan, if you prefer - is an amino acid derivative obtained from tryptophan.
The 5-HTP, as well as inside our body, is present in large quantities also inside the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia (a plant also known as African bean), whose extracts are taken as a rich source of this particular compound.
5-hydroxytryptophan is available in various dietary supplements, both such and such, and in the form of extract of griffonia seeds, standardized and titled in 5-HTP.
Synthesis and Production
Synthesis of 5-HTP and Serotonin
5-hydroxytryptophan is a precursor of serotonin, synthesized from the amino acid tryptophan by a hydroxylation reaction performed by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase. Once formed, 5-HTP is then transformed into serotonin by decarboxylation.
The reaction that takes place inside the body is as follows:
5-HTP Industrial Production
At the industrial level, 5-hydroxytryptophan is usually obtained by extraction from griffonia seeds.
Activities
Activity and Mechanism of Action of 5-HTP
Since 5-HTP is the direct precursor in the synthesis reaction of serotonin operated from tryptophan, it is believed that its oral intake is able to increase the levels of this neurotransmitter centrally.
In fact, 5-HTP has been shown to be able to overcome the blood-brain barrier and reach the central nervous system, at which level it can then be converted into serotonin.
At the same time, it has been shown that the oral administration of 5-HTP can also induce an increase in the levels of other neurotransmitters, such as melatonin (which plays a very important role in the regulation of the sleep-wake rhythm), dopamine and noradrenaline (also implicated in mood regulation mechanisms) and beta-endorphins (involved in numerous biological functions, including sleep regulation and appetite control).
Serotonin deficiency - or in any case the alteration of its normal concentration at central level - is considered a determining element in the development of various pathologies. Thus, 5-HTP is a particularly interesting compound and potentially useful in treating conditions in which there is a lowering of serotonin levels.
In this regard, many studies have been conducted on 5-hydroxytryptophan to demonstrate their efficacy, from which it emerged that its oral administration is able to:
- Exercise antidepressant activities (according to the monoaminergic hypothesis, in fact, depression is a disorder caused by a deficiency of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline).
- Combating insomnia, in particular by increasing the REM phase and improving sleep quality.
- Check the excessive appetite and, more precisely, the irrepressible desire to eat food that occurs in many obese patients. In particular, 5-HTP appears to be particularly effective in decreasing the consumption of carbohydrates and sweet foods.
- Relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia (activity confirmed by several studies in which patients have found a remarkable improvement in symptoms such as anxiety, pain and insomnia).
- Reducing the frequency of attacks in patients suffering from chronic migraine (studies conducted comparing 5-HTP to methysergide - a known anti-migraine drug - have shown that the effectiveness of the two active ingredients is similar).
uses
As mentioned, since 5-HTP is capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier and increasing the central levels of serotonin, its use can be useful in all those situations in which there is an alteration of the normal concentration of this neurotransmitter, as it happens for example, in depression, insomnia, some eating disorders and fibromyalgia.
However, despite the encouraging results obtained from the various studies conducted so far, the therapeutic use of 5-idorssitoptophan has not been officially approved; therefore, it falls only in the composition of food supplements and not in the composition of real drugs.
The use of the aforementioned supplements can be useful in case of lowered mood and insomnia, and can help control appetite. However, such products are certainly not able to cure diseases such as depression, obesity, insomnia or fibromyalgia.
Please note
5-HTP supplements should not be understood as a substitute for a balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
Moreover, as mentioned, they are not able to cure diseases like those mentioned above. The use of these supplements, therefore, can be useful in case of non pathological conditions, or - if the doctor deems it appropriate - they can be used as adjuvants in the context of a specific and targeted medical-pharmacological treatment.
dosage
Usually, to improve mood, it is recommended to take about 100-150 mg of 5-HTP a day, to be taken in divided doses (two or three times a day).
To combat insomnia, however, we recommend a daily dose of 100-300 mg of 5-hydroxytryptophan, to be taken preferably before going to bed.
Advantages
Advantages of 5-HTP integration compared to Tryptophan integration
Since 5-HTP is obtained by tryptophan hydroxylation, it is natural to ask why - to combat mood, appetite and sleep disorders - it is preferable to use 5-hydroxytryptophan supplementation rather than tryptophan supplementation .
This basically happens because the oral intake of 5-HTP is more advantageous from many points of view than the oral intake of tryptophan. In fact:
- 5-HTP is absorbed in large quantities when administered orally and is able to easily cross the blood-brain barrier, thus reaching the central nervous system.
- The absorption of 5-HTP is not influenced by the presence of other amino acids, therefore, it can be taken during meals without its activity being affected.
- The limiting phase in the synthesis of serotonin starting from tryptophan is represented by its transformation into 5-hydroxytryptophan. Therefore, the administration of 5-HTP allows to bypass this critical step.
- Unlike tryptophan, 5-HTP cannot be used in other synthetic routes for the production of proteins, such as, for example, niacin. For this reason, compared to tryptophan, when taken orally, 5-HTP can reach the central nervous system in greater quantities.
Side effects
When administered at the recommended doses, 5-hydroxytryptophan appears to be a safe product to use. However, it is not uncommon for nausea and gastric disturbances to occur after taking it, although these are usually minor disorders.
However, it is important to remember that following oral treatment with 5-HTP, some patients have reported other more or less serious side effects, such as:
- He retched;
- Flatulence;
- Diarrhea;
- Pain and heartburn;
- Headache;
- Sexual disorders;
- Muscle disorders;
- Myalgia-eosinophilia syndrome.
Pharmacological Interactions
Since it is capable of increasing serotonin levels in the body, 5-hydroxytryptophan can interact with different drugs.
Carbidopa
Concomitant intake of 5-HTP and carbidopa causes, in sensitive individuals, an increased risk of onset of scleroderma-like diseases.
Therefore the intake of 5-hydroxytryptophan in patients already on carbidopa therapy should be carried out very carefully and under medical supervision.
IMAO and SSRI
Concomitant intake of 5-hydroxytryptophan and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) significantly increases the risk of developing serotonin syndrome. For this reason, such associations should be carried out carefully, or even better avoided.
In the case of concomitant administration it is necessary to use a great deal of caution and patients should be monitored in order to promptly identify the appearance of typical symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as confusion, disorientation and anxiety.
Other drugs
5-hydroxytryptophan can establish drug interactions also with:
- Dextromethorphan (an antitussive drug);
- Meperidine, tramadol and pentazocine (opioid analgesic drugs).
All the aforementioned drugs have the potential to increase the central levels of serotonin. Therefore, in case of concomitant intake with 5-HTP, an additive effect can occur such that the concentration of serotonin in the body increases excessively, leading to the onset of serious side effects and, possibly, to the appearance of serotonin syndrome.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
With regard to the intake of 5-hydroxytryptophan during pregnancy and during breastfeeding, up to now no adequate studies have been conducted to prove its efficacy and, above all, safety for the mother and the fetus / child. Therefore, as a precaution, the use of 5-HTP during pregnancy and lactation should not be performed.
Contraindications
The use of 5-HTP is contraindicated in cases of known hypersensitivity to 5-hydroxytryptophan itself.
