What is 5-HTP?

5-HTP, or to give it the full scientific name 5-Hydroxytryptophan, is a precursor to the neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is important because it is one of the chemicals in the brain that deal with mood, so if levels drop to low we can feel depressed, suffer from anxiety and panic attacks, have other mental disorders such as self harming, insomnia, eating disorders, phobias like agoraphobia, chronic fatigue or be over aggressive. 5-htp then is often used as a substitute for medical anti-depressants like Prozac or other SSRI's.

As Serotonin is connected with feelings of fullness and satisfaction after eating, 5-htp is often marketed as a dieting aid. It is thought that by boosting Serotonin levels we feel fuller and have less of an appetite. Also, because 5-htp improves mood we have less stress and therefore less need to comfort eat. Through both of these weight loss can be achieved.

Although we all get Tryptophan (the substance our body normally uses to make Serotonin) from the protein in our diet, supplementing with 5-htp is thought to be a better way of making sure Serotonin is kept topped up everyday. Our bodies find it difficult to get tryptophan into the brain where it is needed, but 5-htp is much more easily absorbed.

People disagree on how much 5-htp you should use each day, but in reality it depends on what you are using it for and how severe your symptoms are. Someone using it as a minor sleep aid might well get away with significantly less than someone who has depression which has been with them for years. The short answer to the question "how much 5-htp do I need?" is: start with a small dose and work your way up until you get the effects you want. You should not overdose though, following doctor's and manufacturers instructions is best. If you don't get the results you want then try something else, nothing works for everyone and although lots of people swear by 5-htp nothing works for everyone, there is no silver bullet.