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Research on Fibromyalgia
5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin
precursor.
| AUTHORS:
| Birdsall TC
| AUTHOR AFFILIATION:
| 73541.2166@compuserve.com
| SOURCE:
| Altern Med Rev 1998
Aug;3(4):271-80
| CITATION IDS:
| PMID: 9727088 UI:
98404751
| ABSTRACT:
| 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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