Question regarding 5-HTP

[Tritoch]

Encyclopedia of Mind Enhancing Foods, Drugs And Nutritional Substances by David W. Group has the following to say about 5-HTP supplements:

...while the brain creates 5-HTP and immediately destroys it, the pill distributes it, through the bloodstream, all over the body; the consequences of this are as yet unknown.

Any input?

 

[Ximot]

why would the brain immediately destroy it? because it is the main building block for serotonin and thus immediately converted?

Does the brain create it? I thought it's a metabolite of L-tryptophan... hmm... !?

 

[yossarian_is_sane!]

Well the process goes L-typtophan ---> 5-HTP ---> 5-HT (serotonin). Apparently only 1% (or less) of the avaliable 5-HTP is converted into serotonin in the brain so that leaves a large amount of 5-HTP for your body to deal with which is what i believe this refers too.

 

[Tritoch]

Apparently only 1% (or less) of the avaliable 5-HTP is converted into serotonin in the brain so that leaves a large amount of 5-HTP for your body to deal with which is what i believe this refers too.

Well it seems to be saying that taking 5-HTP in pill form leads to parts of your body being unnaturally exposed to 5-HTP...

 

[nuke]

I don't see why it'd be problematic. It will either convert to serotonin in smooth muscles (causing things like nausea or diarrhea) or get munched up by the liver/MAO and/or get excreted by the kidneys.

 

[yossarian_is_sane!]

^ That's probably what they're reffering too. And an increased risk to people with cardio-vascular problems. I'd imagine it would be pretty much harmless to your average user.

 

[Therapeutic]

5-HTP IMO isn't a very good antidepressant if you have severe anxiety or severe depression.