Irritability is a common response to stress and annoyance as well as a typical symptom of conditions such as depression, anxiety and premenstrual syndrome. 5-hydroxytryptophan, also known as 5-HTP, is used as a dietary supplement to help treat a number of physical and mental conditions. 5-HTP may provide some benefit to reducing feelings of stress and irritability. Consult your doctor before using any dietary supplements.
About 5-HTP
Your body makes 5-HTP from an amino acid known as tryptophan. Tryptophan is obtained from food sources such as turkey, chicken and milk. Once 5-HTP has been manufactured, your body converts it into the neurotransmitter serotonin, a brain chemical that has a significant impact on your mood and overall feelings of well-being. Certain mood disorders that can make you feel irritable, such as depression and anxiety, are thought to occur partially due to an imbalance of serotonin in your brain. Because of 5-HTP's effect on serotonin, it is also thought to have a beneficial impact on symptoms of anxiety and depression and may help improve your mood and reduce irritability.
Causes of Irritability
Sometimes, you know the cause of your feelings of irritation. Perhaps your neighbor's dog is barking while you're trying to sleep or you feel too hot, too cold or just uncomfortable. However, irritability can also be a sign of another underlying medical condition. National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus says that irritability may be associated with alcohol or drug withdrawal, autism spectrum disorders, cancer, iron deficiency anemia and a number of additional mental and physical health conditions. If you feel irritable and you're not sure of the cause, it could also be that you're deficient in serotonin. 5-HTP may help alleviate your feelings of irritability by boosting your serotonin levels.
Evidence
A study published in the April 2002 issue of the journal, "Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior" reports that reduced levels of tryptophan can cause changes in serotonin synthesis and lead to mood disorders like depression, whose symptoms include irritability as well as lowered mood. Additionally, a study published in 1995 in the "American Journal of Psychiatry" found that bulimic patients experienced an increase in irritability after acute tryptophan depletion. Another study, published in August 1976 in the journal "Neuroscience Letters," found that administration of 5-HTP to normal, healthy study participants resulted in an elevation in mood.
Considerations
While 5-HTP supplementation may help improve your mood, do not rely on dietary supplements to self-treat any symptoms you may be experiencing. Persistent feelings of irritability may be a sign of another underlying disorder. Consult your doctor to discuss your symptoms and treatment options. If you choose to use 5-HTP, inform your doctor. 5-HTP may interact with certain medications and may cause some mild side effects.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
- Medline Plus: Irritability
- "Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior"; The Role of Serotonin in Human Mood and Social Interaction. Insight From Altered Tryptophan Levels; S.N. Young and M. Leyton; April 2002
- "American Journal of Psychiatry"; Acute Tryptophan Depletion and Increased Food Intake and Irritability in Bulimia Nervosa; T.E. Weltzin, et al.; 1995
- "Neuroscience Letters"; Mood Elevation and Pituitary Stimulation After IV l-5HTP In Normal Subjects: Evidence for a Common Serotoninergic Mechanism; W. Puhringer, et al.; August 1976
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