5-HTP - the Serotonin Connection!
Coming to a theater near you!
Kinda' reminds you of that cop movie from the 70s, doesn't it?
Actually, 5-HTP has nothing to do with cops or movies. But that doesn't mean it's any less exciting! This may be especially true if you're suffering from depression or a number of other conditions. It may turn out to be just what the doctor ordered!
5-Hydroxytryptophan is the full name of the amino acid that is the intermediate compound between tryptophan and the feel-good chemical serotonin.
It is marketed in the United States as a supplement that is used as an antidepressant, an appetite suppressant, and a sleep aid. Decreased levels of serotonin in the brain are associated with conditions such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Individuals with fibromyalgia often have low levels of serotonin in the blood. It is thought that adding supplementation of 5-Hydroxy tryptophan causes the body's serotonin producing neurons to increase production. An increased production of serotonin results in an increased release of serotonin.
Migraine headaches have been associated with abnormal serotonin function in blood vessels in the brain. 5-HTP supplementation may help to correct this abnormality.
Studies have shown that 5-Hydroxytryptophan helps to prevent migraines as well as limit their severity and frequency.
In one clinical trial, 124 individuals were given either 600 milligrams of 5-HTP or the prescription medicine methysergide. After six months, 5-Hydroxytryptophan was found to be as effective as the prescription medication for migraines. However, it's probably best known as a treatment for depression.
There have been several clinical trials that have found it to be as effective as prescription medications in treating depression.
In one six-week clinical trial, 63 individuals were given either 100 milligrams of 5-Hydroxytryptophan daily or 50 milligrams of the prescription medicine fluvoxamine, three times daily. The amino acid was found to be as effective as the antidepressant with fewer side effects.
Insomnia is a condition that is associated with a deficiency of tryptophan in the brain. This deficiency can be corrected by supplementation with 5-Hydroxytryptophan. Tryptophan is a precursor of 5-Hydroxytryptophan.
It may also be an effective tool for lowering blood pressure.
A clinical study was done with an objective of determining what effect it had on blood pressure. Individuals that were given 50 milligrams of 5-HTP daily over a six-week period were able to reduce blood pressure by 6 percent.
Do you need to drop a few pounds? 5-Hydroxytryptophan may be just the answer.
Three placebo-controlled studies indicated that it was effective in helping o verweight individuals lose weight. The individuals participating in these studies lost 3 to 5 times as much weight as those taking a placebo.
Other conditions that may be helped by supplementation with this amino acid include: carbohydratecraving, sleepapnea, bulimia, premenstrual syndrome, and narcolepsy.
It is found naturally in certain foods such as cheese and turkey.
There are certain conditions where elevated serotonin levels are harmful, so be sure to talk to your physician before taking it to see if it is right for you.
Also certain medications may interact with it, so be sure to talk to your healthcare professional to see if it is right for your circumstances.
It could be a beneficial addition to any treatments you may be currently taking for a number of conditions. To borrow a term from Siskel & Ebert, former television movie critics, we give this one a 'thumbs up'.
Kearney Adams is a writer and Webmaster for a website that focuses on home remedies. You can learn which home remedies work and which ones don't. Find information on home remedies and treatments for a variety of conditions.
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