5-Hydroxytryptophan (also known as oxitriptan or 5-HTP) is a naturally occurring amino acid that serves as a chemical precursor and metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitter’s serotonin and melatonin from tryptophan. It’s used by your body to make serotonin, a chemical messenger that communicates between nerve cells. Depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, weight gain, and other health issues are linked to low serotonin levels. As a result, increasing the body’s serotonin output can have a variety of advantages. As a result, serotonin-producing 5-HTP supplements have grown in popularity.
Here are 5 of 5-HTP’s possible health benefits:
It will help you lose weight by increasing your feelings of fullness: 5-HTP can cause you to feel more satisfied, causing you to eat less and lose weight. Weight loss will boost the development of hunger-inducing hormones. Constant hunger can make weight loss difficult to maintain in the long run. 5-HTP can work to suppress appetite and aid weight loss by counteracting these hunger-inducing hormones.
Furthermore, 5-HTP mainly inhibited the consumption of carbohydrates-derived calories, linked to improved blood sugar regulation. Many other studies have shown that 5-HTP improved feelings of fullness and helped people lose weight, whether overweight or obese. Furthermore, animal studies have shown that 5-HTP can help minimize overeating caused by stress or depression.
Increases serotonin levels, which helps with depression: The effects of 5-HTP on depressive symptoms have been extensively researched. Although the exact cause of depression is unclear, some researchers agree that a serotonin deficiency can affect your mood, leading to depression. Serotonin levels are believed to be increased by 5-HTP supplements, which are used to treat depression.
Fibromyalgia symptoms have shown improvement: 5-HTP supplementation can help with fibromyalgia symptoms, including muscle and bone pain and general weakness. Fibromyalgia is yet to be identified as a cause, although low serotonin levels have been linked to the disease. This has led researchers to conclude that taking 5-HTP supplements to boost serotonin levels could help people with fibromyalgia.
Helps manage migraines: Migraines are throbbing headaches that are frequently accompanied by nausea or blurred vision. 5-HTP is said to help with migraines. Although the exact cause is unknown, some researchers suspect that low serotonin levels are to blame. The ability of 5-HTP and methysergide, a common migraine drug, to prevent migraines was compared in a 124-person study. It was discovered that taking 5-HTP daily for six months avoided or substantially reduced the number of migraine attacks in 71% of those who took part.
Increased Melatonin Production Will Help You Sleep: Serotonin is generated by 5-HTP, which can then be converted to the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that helps you sleep better. Its levels increase in the evening to help you sleep and then fall in the morning to wake up. As a result, taking 5-HTP supplements can help you sleep better by increasing your body’s melatonin output.
A combination of 5-HTP and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shortened the time it took to fall asleep, increased sleep length, and improved sleep quality in one human study. GABA is a chemical messenger that helps people unwind. It’s possible that combining it with 5-HTP has a synergistic effect. Several animal and insect studies have shown that 5-HTP enhances sleep efficiency, with the result being improved when paired with GABA.
5-HTP has been related to minor side effects, but these can be avoided by beginning with lower doses and gradually increasing the dosage. Since 5-HTP can interact negatively with various medications, check with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you to use.
