Hydroxytryptophan benefit and side effects, use for mood disorders, depression, anxiety, appetite suppression, and sleep
5-hydroxytryptophan is found in some
over-the-counter weight loss formulas. It replaced tryptophan
supplements after the FDA banned sale of tryptophan in 1990. However, tryptophan
became available over the counter back in the early 2000s.
5-hydroxytryptophan is a good appetite suppressant, but no long term human
studies have been published as of 2009 to determine if the appetite
suppression continues over weeks or months of use.
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extract, hoodia extract, and hydroxytryptophan, with hardly any side effects,
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Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP converts
into serotonin
Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP (5-hydroxy-l-tryptophan) is a natural supplement that converts in the brain
into serotonin. Serotonin is an important brain chemical involved in mood,
behavior, appetite, and sleep. Serotonin is also involved in impulse
control. For instance, low serotonin levels may lead to addictive behavior
such as gambling or other habits caused by weak will power. Serotonin is
found in many places in the body particularly the brain, gastrointestinal
system, and blood cells.
5HTP has been helpful for some people, but the
effects are not consistent in everyone who uses it. Some people are
deficient in serotonin and hence 5 Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP may be helpful to them whereas
other people may have depression, anxiety, and other symptoms that may
appear to be due to serotonin deficiency, but may actually be
from other causes. There's really no easy way -- for instance blood
studies in a doctor's office -- to tell whether someone is deficient in
serotonin, and if they are, whether 5-Hydroxytryptophan would help them.
Diet pill
Hydroxytryptophan 5-HTP may be helpful in weight loss due to appetite
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Metabolism
Conversion of 5-hydroxytryptophan into serotonin by tryptophan decarboxylase in
plants, Escherichia coli, and yeast.
Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008 Sep; Department of Molecular Biotechnology,
Agricultural Plant Stress Research Center, Biotechnology Research Institute,
Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Japan.
The L-tryptophan decarboxylase gene of rice was heterologously expressed in
various organisms. Transgenic rice overexpressing L-tryptophan decarboxylase
showed accumulation of serotonin upon 5-hydroxytryptophan treatment, which was
consistent with the in vitro 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase enzyme activity
of purified recombinant rice L-tryptophan decarboxylase in a pyridoxal
phosphate-dependent manner. Recombinant yeast harboring L-tryptophan
decarboxylase produced serotonin at the expense of the endogenous
5-hydroxytryptophan levels.
questions
Q. What are the side effects of L-Hydroxytryptophan? I took a 100 mg capsule of
L-5-Hydroxytryptophan and got very nauseated.
A. We generally don't recommend taking more than 50 mg since it causes gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea
and stomach upset. Some people get diarrhea.