5-HTP for Depression

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) has studies showing its effectiveness and safety for depression. 5-HTP is the precursor of serotonin, which is the neurotransmitter in the brain that are hypothesized to be deficient in depression.

Tryptophan ➨ 5-HTP ➨ Serotonin

The serotonin hypothesis of depression states that depression is caused by a deficiency of serotonin in the synapses of the neurons of the brain circuits that modulate depression. The popular SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) antidepressants are often utilized to treat depression, where they increase synaptic serotonin by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin presynaptically. However, SSRIs come with significant side effects and require a doctor’s prescription. There is a natural alternative which has studies showing its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of depression

5-HTP is an aromatic amino acid that is produced by the body from tryptophan, and is involved with the production of serotonin. Commercially, 5-HTP is produced by extraction from Griffonia simplicifolia seeds. Thus, oral 5-HTP is a natural dietary supplement, and has been used in the treatment of depression for the past 40 years.

When taken orally, 5-HTP increases serotonin in the synapses, as 5-HTP is a precursor of serotonin. There are multiple studies showing that 5-HTP is effective and safe for depression. There are 27 clinical studies of 5-HTP for depression, of which the majority of studies showed that 5-HTP was effective and safe for depression (Iovieno et al., 2011). The majority of the studies administered between 200mg to 300mg per day of 5-HTP. At this dosing range, 5-HTP is well tolerated, and the most common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (Iovieno et al., 2011).

The reason for the lack of use of 5-HTP in the treatment of depression is because of the focus and huge marketing blitz of the SSRIs, where the SSRIs have dominated the treatment of depression since the late 1980’s. However, with the ongoing backlash against the SSRIs and its numerous side effects, people are seeking natural and safer alternative treatments for the treatment of depression, such as the natural dietary supplement 5-HTP.

Fortunately, there is a natural 5-HTP formulation that can treat depression safely: the all-new KalmPro Mood Support. 100% satisfaction guaranteed, or your money back.

photo credit: By RicHard-59 based on Trp-5ht-pathway.png by Likeitsmyjob – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=18487902