What is 5-Hydroxytryptophan?

5-hydroxytryptophan, also called 5-HTP, is a chemical the body makes from the essential amino acid L-tryptophan. An essential amino acid must be obtained from food or supplements because the body cannot create it. The brain converts 5-hydroxytryptophan to the chemical serotonin, which plays an important role in regulating mood, appetite, sleep and certain aspects of behavior.

Food and Supplements

5-hydroxytryptophan is not available through food, although tryptophan is found in meat, fish, shellfish, soy, spinach and many other sources. People wanting to obtain more 5-hydroxytryptophan can take it in supplement form, derived from seeds of the African plant Griffonia simplicifolia. The usual recommended dose is 50 milligrams between one and three times a day.

Weight Loss

A common use of 5-hydroxytryptophan supplements is for weight loss. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, the substance can make people feel more full after eating, so they eat less. Low serotonin levels also are associated with impulsive behavior, which can lead to eating too much or too often. Increased serotonin levels may decrease food cravings and reduce episodes of binge eating in eating disorders.

Depression, Anxiety and OCD

People also take 5-hydroxytryptophan to treat mild to moderate depression and anxiety. 5-HTP has a similar but less potent effect as that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a group of antidepressants which includes fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Increased serotonin also can be effective at treating anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Additional Uses

Additional uses for 5-hydroxytryptophan supplements include treating symptoms of fibromyalgia and relieving chronic headaches. It may be beneficial for treating insomnia and premenstrual disorder, and for improving concentration in people with attention deficit disorder.

Side Effects and Contraindications

People taking antidepressant medications should not take 5-hydroxytryptophan supplements because serotonin levels could be raised too high. 5-HTP supplements can increase sensitivity to the sun, making people who take it more likely to become sunburned. Doses of 70 mg or higher have been associated with constipation, abdominal cramps, gas, bloating, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Rarely, people have experienced an allergic reaction to the supplement. Signs include difficulty breathing, throat closing, and facial or mouth swelling.