5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is one of the transitional chemicals formed when tryptophan is converted to serotonin. Tryptophan is an amino acid—a class of compounds that, strung together in chains, makes up proteins. But individual amino acids are sometimes used by the body to produce other types of compounds. Tryptophan is one such amino acid. It gets converted by the body into 5-HTP and eventually into a compound that the brain and nervous system use, called serotonin. The pathway in the body goes from tryptophan to 5-HTP to serotonin.

Serotonin is an important type of chemical known as a neurotransmitter. Neurotransmitters act as messengers between brain cells (neurons) and affect the way the brain functions. The chemical name for serotonin is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT: don’t get confused with 5-HTP!). Serotonin, among other things, is a primary component in the sleep cycle. Various conditions or problems may upset the balance of serotonin in the body and result in conditions like depression, insomnia or anxiety. Restoring that balance can improve emotional well-being.

One source of 5-HTP is from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia. The seeds undergo an extraction process that results in the production of 5-HTP. Supplement companies (such as LifeLink) have this extraction done by a German pharmaceutical company that has been manufacturing 5-HTP for use in Europe for the past 30 years.

In the body, the 5-hydroxytryptophan is converted into serotonin, which the brain then uses. The conversion of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) to serotonin (5-HT) is facilitated by the presence of certain enzymes. One enzyme known as an aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase clips off a carboxyl group (notated chemically as COOH). And voila: serotonin.

This conversion to serotonin has to be done in the brain since serotonin does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier. There’s plenty of the decarboxylase enzyme in the brain so that’s not a problem. But there’s also a fair amount in the liver and gut—and that can be activated by taking vitamin B-6 (because the conversion process also uses the B6 dependent enzyme). There is heated controversy over whether 5-HTP users should avoid taking vitamin B-6, or multi’s with B-6 in them, at the same time as 5-HTP (Sandyk R. 1992). Prudence suggests waiting at least 2 hours between doses and not exceed 5 mg of B6 near the time of 5-HTP use.

There have been several controlled clinical studies in humans. With regard to depression, it appears 5-HTP’s best effect is on those associated with aggression or panic disorders. For some types of depression, it doesn’t fare as well. For example, in people who have seen no benefit from using tricyclic antidepressants in treating their depression, no further benefit is seen by switching to 5-HTP.

Finally, a study indicates that use of 5-HTP in obese people resulted in feelings of early satiety (feeling full after eating a small amount) and reduction in carbohydrate intake. Significant weight loss was found in the group using 300 mg of 5-HTP, 1 hour before meals.