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What Is 5-Htp Power?

5-HTP power, found through online retailers and health food stores, is a pill that claims to help diminish the effects of depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, chronic headaches and insomnia.

  1. Claims

    • 5-HTP Power is marketed as a supplement to improve your "appetite, mood and sleep" by increasing the amount of serotonin in your body. It is designed as a natural alternative to to Selective Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI'S), which are commonly used to treat depression. 5-HTP has been observed to be sleep inducing since once serotonin is present in the body, it can be transformed into the sleep regulating compound melatonin. Individuals who have used the 5-HTP supplements to lose weight have found in study after study that their carbohydrate cravings decreased and that they were satisfied earlier. The presence of serotonin has also been used to combat an array of mood-depressive conditions such as depression, schizophrenia and Parkinson's disease. Specifically, small dosages of 5-HTP have been shown to have the effect of lessening feelings of depression, making it a promising therapy as a precursor of serotonin.

    5-HTP to Serotonin?

    • "HTP", Hydroxytryptophan is the all-important ingredient in 5-HTP Power that has the ability to change into serotonin. Another popular supplement, the amino acid tryptophan, is used to increase the amount of serotonin. 5-HTP would be preferable, if effective, since tryptophan is turned into 5-HTP and 5-HTP is turned into serotonin, so taking 5-HTP directly allows the body to skip a step in conversion. Since about 70 percent of the HTP is absorbed into the bloodstream after being taken, it's an effective strategy for raising serotonin levels.

    Other Ingredients

    • Siberian ginseng, ashwaganda and SUMA are included as "adaptogenic herbs", defined by the Current Clinical Pharmacology journal as "herbal preparations that increase tolerance to mental exhaustion and enhance attention and mental endurance in situations of decreased performance." By increasing the overall sense of well-being, these ingredients could also play a helpful role in mood, appetite and sleep. B-6 and zinc are meant to complement the effects of 5-HTP. The conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin is highly dependent on B-6, making 5-HTP more effective. The presence of zinc encourages higher levels of BDNF, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, observed for it's antidepressant effects.

    Potential Dangers

    • Too much serotonin in the body does not provide for unending periods of happiness, but leads to a state of "Serotonin Syndrome." While experiencing the syndrome, individuals may experience a rapid heart rate, agitation, restlessness, and confusion which are very much the opposite of the desired effect of 5-HTP Power.

    Side Effects

    • Since serotonin is active as a neurotransmitter both in the brain and in the GI tract, GI upset may result from excessive stimulation of the system. If side effects are inconvenient, but the effects of the 5-HTP supplementation are otherwise desired, drugs called peripheral decarboxylase inhibitors can be taken to remedy the issue. By "refocusing" the effects of serotonin, more will be shunted toward the brain and less toward the GI tract.

    Effectiveness

    • 5-HTP may be more effective in some individuals than in others, but has the physiological ability to modify mood, appetite and sleep by raising serotonin levels.

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