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You are here: Home / Stress / 5-HTP for Stress

5-HTP for Stress

February 5, 2017 By Leave a Comment Last Updated: February 12, 2017

Amino acid 5-HTP can reduce stress by improving mood.

5-HTP. By Jynto [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a brain chemical needed to synthesize serotonin and melatonin. As a supplement, it may help with stress through:

  • Elevating serotonin levels. Serotonin dysfunction has been linked to mood and anxiety disorders.

Table of Contents

Toggle
  • Overview
  • How 5-HTP May Help With Stress
    • Elevating serotonin levels
  • 5-HTP Benefits & Uses for Stress
  • Research
    • Animal Research
    • Human Research
  • Dosage for Stress
  • Supplements in Review Says

Overview

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a naturally-occuring amino acid best known as a precursor to the brain chemicals serotonin and melatonin.

Although 5-HTP is only present in food in trace amounts, the body is able to use the dietary amino acid tryptophan to convert it into 5-HTP. In turn, 5-HTP’s main function is to turn into serotonin, the brain neurotransmitter associated with happiness and well-being.1

As such, 5-HTP is frequently taken to improve mood, and it’s age-related decline may explain low serotonin levels and associated disorders such as depression, insomnia, and stress.

Did you know? Recent medical findings suggest that serotonin may be able to boost growth hormone levels as well.
5-HTP is all about positive vibes. By Camdiluv ♥ from Concepción, CHILE (Colours) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

How 5-HTP May Help With Stress

Elevating serotonin levels

The main mechanism of action of 5-HTP is increasing the brain’s serotonin levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter involved in the regulation of mood and social behavior, and its dysfunction has been linked to depression, anxiety, and other related mental conditions.2 3

5-HTP Benefits & Uses for Stress

Some of the major, research-backed benefits of 5-HTP supplements include improvement of mood and relief of stress, anxiety, and pain. Some people also use 5-HTP for stress-related binge eating, irritability, headaches, and even as a nootropic aid.

In addition, 5-HTP has been suggested to protect the body from oxidative stress.4

Research

Animal Research

Research shows that 5-HTP is capable of:

  • Reducing anxiety. 5-HTP seed extracts appear to have an anxiolytic effect on rats.5
  • Elevating serotonin. Administration of 5-HTP to mice triggers the release of serotonin as a response to stress6 as well as in anxiety and depression.7

Human Research

Clinical studies demonstrate that 5-HTP is capable of reducing symptoms of stress and anxiety.

5-HTP (200 mg) may reduce the risk of panic attacks

In this placebo-controlled investigation, 24 individuals with panic disorder and 24 healthy individuals were given either 200 mg of 5-HTP or placebo before undergoing a panic challenge. Compared to the placebo, 5-HTP significantly reduced the number of panic attacks, subjective anxiety, and panic symptom scores in panic disorder patients.

  • The study concluded that “L-5-Hydroxytryptophan acts to inhibit panic, which supports a modulatory role of serotonin in panic disorder.”8

5-HTP (25.6 mg) may mitigate break-up stress

In this open-label investigation, 15 adults who recently broke off a romantic relationship were given 60 mg of Griffonia simplicifolia containing 12.8 mg of 5-HTP 2 times a day for 6 weeks. The treated group saw significant increases in serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), alongside emotional improvements.

  • The study concluded that “direct modulation of the serotonergic system may have use for the treatment of psychological suffering associated with unreciprocated romantic love.”9

5-HTP may significantly improve symptoms of anxiety disorder

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled investigation, 45 patients with anxiety disorder were found to have significant improvements on anxiety rating scales after taking 5-HTP.

  • The study concluded that “5-HTP showed a moderate reduction of the symptomatology on the 90-item symptoms checklist (SCL-90) and the State Scale of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory.”10

Dosage for Stress

  • Research study 5-HTP dosages range from 25 – 500 mg
  • 5-HTP supplements typically come in 50 – 200 mg capsules
Take 5-HTP with food to manage weight. When ingested with food, 5-HTP supplements seem to make one feel more full. This may have something to do with the presence of serotonin receptors in the digestive tract. 11

Supplements in Review Says

  • 5-HTP 100 – 200 mg daily for stress.

We recommend 5-HTP to improve mood under stress. Since stress is often linked to anxiety and a low mood, 5-HTP can be an effective way to manage stress.

Best way to take 5-HTP is 100 – 200 mg capsules.  Taking 100 – 200 mg of 5-HTP daily is our recommendation for optimal stress relief. Although up to 500 mg is known to have been used, we suggest starting at 100 mg until more research is conducted.

Show 11 footnotes

  1. Frazer A, Hensler JG. Serotonin involvement in physiological function and behavior. In: Siegel GJ, ed. Basic Neurochemistry: Molecular, Cellular and Medical Aspects. 6th ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven;1999. ↩
  2. Shaw K, Turner J, et al. Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2002;(1):CD003198. ↩
  3. Birdsall TC. 5-Hydroxytryptophan: A Clinically-Effective Serotonin Precursor. Altern Med Rev 1998;3:271-80. ↩
  4. Reyes-Gonzales MC, Fuentes-Broto L, et al. Effects of tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan on the hepatic cell membrane rigidity due to oxidative stress. J Membr.Biol 2009;231(2-3):93-9. ↩
  5. Carnevale G, et al. Anxiolytic-like effect of Griffonia simplicifolia Baill. seed extract in rats. Phytomedicine. 2011 Jul 15;18(10):848-51. ↩
  6. Pascuci T, Andolina D, et al. 5-Hydroxytryptophan rescues serotonin response to stress in prefrontal cortex of hyperphenylalaninaemic mice. Int J Neuropsychopharmacol. 2009 Sep;12(8):1067-79. ↩
  7. Fox MA, Jensen CL. Neurochemical, behavioral, and physiological effects of pharmacologically enhanced serotonin levels in serotonin transporter (SERT)-deficient mice. Psycopharmacology (Ber). 2008 Dec;201(2):203-18. ↩
  8. Schruers K, et al. Acute L-5-hydroxytryptophan administration inhibits carbon dioxide-induced panic in panic disorder patients. Psychiatry Res. 2002 Dec 30;113(3):237-43. ↩
  9. Emanuele E, Bertona M, et al. An open-label trial of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in subjects with romantic stress. Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2010;31(5):663-6. ↩
  10. Kahn RS, et al. Effect of a serotonin precursor and uptake inhibitor in anxiety disorders; a double-blind comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan, clomipramine and placebo. Int Clin Psychopharmacol. 1987 Jan;2(1):33-45. ↩
  11. Rondanelli M, Klersy C, et al. Satiety and amino-acid profile in overweight women after a new treatment using a natural plant extract sublingual spray formulation. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009 Oct;33(10):1174-82. ↩

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