Griffonia Seed Extract : 5-HTP

5-HTP

5-Hydoxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is a naturally occurring amino acid that is extracted from Griffonia

Seed. This amino acid is a chemical precursor as well as a metabolic intermediate step between

tryptophan and the important brain chemical, serotonin. It is widely used a dietary supplement for

use as a treatment for conditions cause by the lack of serotonin in the human brain. 5-HTP has been

studied and shown to be of beneficial in the following conditions: Depression, Obesity,

Carbohydrate craving, Bulimia, Insomnia, Narcolepsy, Sleep apnea, Migraine headaches, Tension

headaches, Chronic daily headaches, Premenstrual syndrome, Fibromyalgia.

Benefits

Prevent organ aging;

Nourishing;

Regulating blood circulation;

Relieves mild to moderate depression;

Relieves insomnia and promotes sleep;

Promotes weight loss by suppressing appetite;

Reduces overall sensation of pain (migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, general muscle pain).

Mechanism

5-HTP is typically used to treat mild depression based on the theory that as a precursor to serotonin,

supplements of 5-HTP can increase serotonin levels and influence mood, sleep patterns and pain

control. The amino acid, tryptophan, can also be broken down in the body to yield ribose and/or

NAD – both of which have been associated with increased energy levels. While these are certainly

logical theories, the scientific evidence supporting them remains from mild to moderate as well.

Safety

5-HTP is safe. The safety concern related to 5-HTP supplements is the remote possibility for

contamination with a compound linked to a disorder known as eosinophilic myalgia syndrome

(EMS). In 1989, an outbreak of EMS (which results in muscle pain and weakness, vomiting,

headache and in rare cases, death) was linked to contaminated tryptophan supplements (not to

the tryptophan per se, but to a contaminant in the tryptophan supplements). As a result, the FDA

banned the sale of all tryptophan supplements (a move that has been widely criticized by people

on both sides of the supplement debate). In some rare cases, 5-HTP supplements have been linked

(anecdotally) to gastrointestinal distress, muscle pain, lethargy and headaches.In addition, 5-HTP

supplements are not recommended for children or for women who are pregnant or lactating. Those

individuals currently taking prescription antidepressants, weight control medications or herbal

remedies for depression (such as St. John’s Wort) should not combine these treatments with 5-HTP

supplements.