Depression is a common but serious medical illness that interferes with your everyday life. Symptoms of depression include feelings of guilt, hopelessness, an inability to enjoy activities, sadness or anxiety, insomnia and fatigue. Antidepressants play a major role in the treatment of depression. However, these medications may have undesirable side effects. The safe, natural and effective alternative to conventional medicine is 5-HTP. Consult your doctor before taking any natural medicine for depression.
About 5-HTP
5-HTP, or 5-hydroxytryptophan, is a naturally occurring amino acid that body makes from another amino acid, L-tryptophan. 5-HTP is not obtained from the food you eat. As a supplement, 5-HTP is obtained from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifoli, an African plant. 5-HTP benefits people with depression by providing the brain with more of what it uses naturally to produce serotonin.
5-HTP Work
In the body, 5-HTP is converted into serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that relays signals between the nerve cells, according to a study published in 1998 in "Alternative medicine Review." According to researchers, 5-HTP easily crosses the blood-brain barrier and increases the production of serotonin in the brain, which in turn regulates sleep, depression, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation. The result showed that therapeutic administration of 5-HTP may be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including depression.
Antidepressant Effect
A study published in 1991 in "Psychopathology" indicates that 5-HTP may be as effective as certain antidepressant drugs in treating people with depression. Researchers compared the effect of 5-HTP to fluvoxamine, an antidepressant that functions as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. The experiment involved 63 people, given either 5-HTP at a dosage of 100 mg three times daily or fluvoxamine at a dosage 50 mg three times daily. The results found equal benefit between the supplement and drug. In addition, people who took 5-HTP had fewer side effects than those who took antidepressants.
Side Effects
The side effects of 5-HTP in short-term use are few, but there is no evidence on long-term side effects or toxicity in people with depression, according to a study published in 2003 in "Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience." People taking 5-HTP for short-term use may experience at least one, and in many cases, a combination of side effects which include nausea, heartburn, flatulence, feelings of fullness, and rumbling sensations. Always consult your doctor before taking 5-HTP supplements for depression.
References
- MedlinePlus: Depression
- University of Maryland Medical Center: 5-HTP
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; 5-Hydroxytryptophan: A Clinically-Effective Serotonin Precursor; T. Birdsall; August 1998.
- "Psychopathology"; A Functional-Dimensional Approach to Depression: Serotonin Deficiency as a Target Syndrome in a Comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan and Fluvoxamine; W. Poldinger; Feb 1991
- "Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience" ; Are SAMe and 5-HTP Safe and Effective Treatments for Depression?; Simon N. Young; November 2003
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