5-HTP

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan), is a byproduct of the protein building block L-tryptophan. It is made from the seeds of an African plant, known as Griffonia simplicifolia. 5-HTP operates in the brain and central nervous system, by supporting the production of the mood neurotransmitter, serotonin, as 5-HTP can be converted into serotonin in the body. Serotonin can help regulate sleep, appetite, temperature, libido and pain perception. It is often used for mood balance and upliftment and can also help support anxiety type concerns and maintain healthy sleep cycles.

Since 5-HTP increases serotonin levels, it is used for conditions in which serotonin is believed to play an important role. These include depression, anxiety, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these uses. Depression. Taking 5-HTP by mouth seems to improve symptoms of depression in some people. It might work as well as some prescription antidepressant drugs.

5-HTP supplements support natural serotonin levels in your body, which may support the symptoms of mood balance, sleep patterns, nervous system relaxation and overall brain function. Your body uses 5-HTP to make serotonin. As soon as you start taking 5-HTP you will find that your body will begin to turn it into serotonin. It does not waste any time to start creating it, however it may take some time for your body to get used to the changes before you notice them. Since 5 HTP already occurs in the body, using 5 HTP supplements is technically a completely natural method of increasing your serotonin levels. However, 5 HTP is also most commonly found in sleep supplements, since it promotes feelings of calm and relaxation in the body.

Generally, it may take up to two weeks to be able to notice a beneficial difference in your health and well-being. You could feel more energy, more happiness. The effect on sleep isn't immediate and can take up six to 12 weeks. Recent research shows that 5-HTP taken each day for 8 weeks can potentially lift the symptoms of mild depression.

There are two tests that measure your serotonin levels. The Serotonin Test (also called the 5-HT test) measures the amount of serotonin in your blood, and the 5-HIAA test measures the amount of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the urine. 5-HIAA is a breakdown product of serotonin and indicates raised levels of serotonin. While there is a test that measures serotonin in your blood, it’s generally only used to check for serotonin-producing tumors outside of the brain. Also, blood serotonin levels don’t necessarily reflect the levels in your brain.