Alas, one company I know packages their 5-HTP in 50 mg
capsules with 10 mg of B6. They do this ostensibly so that 5-HTP
can be converted to serotonin in the brain. Duh. This insures
that any 5-HTP will get converted to serotonin in the liver
instead, and thus never make it to the brain. Vitamin B6 is the
*LAST* thing you want in an 5-HTP product.
At the very best, people who take B-vitamins with 5-HTP, or
who take 5-HTP products with B6, waste their money. All this
would be merely humorous (caveat emptor) were it not for some
other facts. At worst, ignorant people fooling with 5-HTP
actually risk their health, since serotonin in the peripheral
blood is not benign. Serotonin causes not only harmless flushing
and diarrhea, but people with serotonin secreting tumors (hindgut
carcinoids) also have problems with fibrosis of the endocardium
and valves in their right hearts, which can cause heart failure.
This fibrosis is caused by the serotonin. This effect can also
be seen with dietary intake of only modest amounts of serotonin,
and there has actually been described in the medical literature a
tribe of South Sea islanders with right heart fibrosis as a
result of eating green banana mash (matuki), which poisons them
with its serotonin content. No, I'm not making this up. The
hydroxylation of tryptophan is a rate-limiting step in the
peripheral production of serotonin, and one bypasses it at one's
peril. - from
this article. It's also been discussed at length in
Possible danger associated with 5-HTP?. Quite a bit to swallow I know, but it's all worth reading if you're planning on taking 5-HTP and B6.
DL-phenylalanine (which they spelt incorrectly) is an interesting one which I haven't seen in a multi-vitamin before (but then I haven't seen many multi-vitamins targeted at MDxx users.) It is a combination of two types of this amino acid...
l-phenylalanine which helps suppress hunger, and elevate your mood. It gets metabolised into norepinephrine and epinephrine (two hormones which are part of what we call adrenaline - hormones stored in the adrenal gland and released during times of mental/physical stress) resulting in increased blood pressure, stimulation of the heart and increased sugar levels in the blood.
d-phenylalanine apparently stops the metabolisation of enkephalins (neurotransmitters similar in effect to opiates and related to endorphins) in the brain. They're responsible for euphoric feelings and pain relief, thus this should provide relief of minor aches and the blues the day after. I highly endorse dl-phenylalanine
L-glutamine is commonly used as a body building suppliment as it's depelted by physical activities is a vital part of muscle integrity... Is this something they've thrown in to protect the muscles of the clubbers? I can't think of any other explaination. Proof, if you ask me, that this really is a designer pharmaceutical specifically aimed at MDxx using clubbers/ravers.
Anyway, back on track. The site seems a little ambiguous to me. There's a lot of silly shit like
A complete nutrient support system, tailor-made for today’s hectic clubbing lifestyle, reload is specifically formulated to help satisfy the special dietary considerations of the serious party person on the go!" for example. It all breaks down, in my eyes to "coming down like a bitch? wanna recover as soon as possible? here is the holy grail!" But then I suppose that's just my take on their marketing strategy.
I'm not going to knock it till I've tried it. I'm a firm believer that a few strong antioxidants, some milk thistle, breakfast and a decent sleep is the best way to recover.
I doubt this has been much use, but it's my take on the gear. I'd be interested to hear how it goes