GSE
SSRI alternative - 5-HTP for depression, anxiety, insomnia
5-HTP - Natural SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) Alternative
Tryptophan from food is metabolized to
SEROTONIN and
MELATONIN via
5-HTP
Tryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid
found in certain foods (especially protein) required by the
human body for the production of
SEROTONIN and
MELATONIN.
Tryptophan is an essential amino acid.
Meaning it must be eaten, since the body cannot make it; L-tryptophan is also obtainable by prescription
Tryptophan Conversions
Conversions
Details
Via Tryptophan hydroxylase
(vitamin
B3 dependent enzyme*)
▼
Mainly converted in intestines;
B3 shortage reduces
5-HTP ,
SEROTONIN,
MELATONIN
production
5-HTP
Via 5-HTP
decarboxylase
(vitamin
B6 dependent enzyme.
However,
too much B6 can convert
5-HTP to
SEROTONIN before it reaches the brain
** )
▼
B6 shortage reduces
SEROTONIN,
MELATONIN
production
SEROTONIN
Alleviates:depression,
hunger, OCD's, Migraine, Fibromyalgia pain; See:
SEROTONIN
Via SEROTONIN
n-acetyl transferase (NAT)
▼
N-acetyl SEROTONIN (NAS)
Via Hydroxy-indole-O-methyltransferase
(HIOMT)
+
SAMe (Donates
a methyl group molecule to HIOMT )
SAMe -And Other Methyl Donor Molecules
(vitamin
B6, B12, folate dependent)
▼
MELATONIN
Aids Sleep; Potent
antioxidant;
See:
MELATONIN
* The body often uses Tryptophan to make vitamin B3,
at a very high cost of 60mg L-Tryptophan to make just 1 mg B3.
**
Too much vitamin B6
can cause 5-HTP to convert into
SEROTONIN before it reaches the
brain? -and consequently raise blood SEROTONIN
levels
- 5-HTP can pass the blood brain barrier, whereas
SEROTONIN
is too large amolecule. Thus it is desireable that some
5-HTP enters the brain before conversion,
which may not happen if B6 is available
to excess. As to how much B6 is
too much is debateable, but is conservatively in the 5-10 mg range.
- Experiments with monkeys and rats found that
ample amounts of B6 (Even to the point
of "moderate excess") increased production of brain
SEROTONIN from
5-HTP by up to 60%.
(Dakshinamurti et al, 1990; Hartvig et al, 1995)
- Conversely, however, a notable rat study found
that rats with vitamin B6 deficiency produced
very little SEROTONIN
in the rat brain. (Dakshinamurti et al, 1976
)
5-HTP can be taken as a supplement to
increase brain's levels of the hormones:
•
SEROTONIN -
to help alleviate: Depression, hunger,
OCD's, Migraine, Fibromyalgia pain;
•
MELATONIN - help with: Insomnia, also a powerful
antioxidant in the body;
Clinical trials show that
5-HTP is a safe,
natural way to boost brain SEROTONIN
levels
5-HTP
has been shown to produce results equal to or better than those of synthetic
drugs. Used in problems arising from
SEROTONIN or
MELATONIN deficiency,
and has been used for decades in Europe as an approved and effective treatment
for a wide range of health problems, including depression, fibromyalgia, sleep problems
(including insomnia), binge eating, pain, obsessive compulsive
behavior, chronic headaches, weight loss , and other medical complaints.
5-HTP is the
precursor to SEROTONIN -
usually produced by the body from tryptophan (a food amino acid) by
vitamin B3-dependent enzyme
5-HTP for SEROTONIN -Against Depression
5-HTP for SEROTONIN -To Aid for Weight-loss
The body can convert
SEROTONIN
to the hormone
MELATONIN - responsible
for setting your biological clock and helping you sleep.
5-HTP for
MELATONIN - Insomnia and other Sleep
disorders
Advantages of 5-HTP
over Tryptophan supplementation
5-HTP More easily passes blood brain barrier
(BBB).
For
many people, getting tryptophan through the blood brain barrier is the main bottleneck
leading to inadequate brain SEROTONIN levels. 5-HTP
passes through the BBB into the brain far more easily than tryptophan.
Less competition / more efficient.
Unlike tryptophan, 5-HTP
is not used to make proteins in the body, so there is no competition for
5-HTP by cells outside the brain, as there is
for the body's scarce tryptophan supplies. Human clinical studies show that
5-HTP is far more efficient at increasing brain
SEROTONIN levels than L-tryptophan.
More effective against depression.
5-HTP has been a far
more successful antidepressant, even when the Tryptophan dosage used is 10 to 15
times higher than the 5-HTP dosage. Also, relapses
back into depression are more common with Tryptophan than with
5-HTP .
Not toxic to liver (especially
when under stress). L-Tryptophan can be broken down in the liver
by pyrrolase, an enzyme that converts Tryptophan to kynurenine and its metabolites,
which can be mildly liver toxic at high levels. 5-HTP
is not metabolized through this pathway. The stress hormone,
CORTISOL, activates pyrrolase,
such that any L-Tryptophan supplementation should be kept to under 1 gram (1000
mg.),especially in those who are chronically stressed.
5-HTP
also increases mood /alertness neurotransmitters.
Unlike Tryptophan, 5-HTP has
been shown to increase brain dopamine and noradrenaline activity. These are two
key mood and alertness regulating neurotransmitters, and when tyrosine, the amino-acid
precursor for brain dopamine/ noradrenaline is given along with
5-HTP , the effect is even more powerful.
References Dakshinamurti K, Sharma SK, Bonke D. (1990) Influence of
B vitamins on binding properties of serotonin receptors in the CNS of rats. Klin
Wochenschr;68:142-145.
Dakshinamurti K, LeBlancq WD, Herchl R, Havlicek V. (1976)
Nonparallel changes, in brain monoamines of pyridoxine deficient growing rats. Exp
Brain Res.;26:355-366.
Hartvig P, Lindner KJ, Bjurling P, Langstrom B, Tedroff
J. (1995) Pyridoxine effect on synthesis rate of serotonin in the monkey brain measured
with positron emission tomography. J Neural Trans ;102:91-97.