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5-HYDROXYTRYPTOPHAN: A CLINICALLY-EFFECTIVE SEROTONIN PRECURSOR.
Birdsall
TC.
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is the
intermediate metabolite of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan
(LT) in the biosynthesis of serotonin. Intestinal absorption of
5-HTP does not require the presence of a transport molecule, and is
not affected by the presence of other amino acids; therefore it may
be taken with meals without reducing its effectiveness. Unlike LT,
5-HTP cannot be shunted into niacin or protein production.
Therapeutic use of 5-HTP bypasses the conversion of LT into 5-HTP by
the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase, which is the rate-limiting step
in the synthesis of serotonin. 5-HTP is well absorbed from an oral
dose, with about 70 percent ending up in the bloodstream. It easily
crosses the blood-brain barrier and effectively increases central
nervous system (CNS) synthesis of serotonin. In the CNS, serotonin
levels have been implicated in the regulation of sleep, depression,
anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behaviour, and
pain sensation. Therapeutic administration of 5-HTP has been shown
to be effective in treating a wide variety of conditions, including
depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity,
chronic headaches, and insomnia.
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