5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid which is the conduit or intermediate step between Tryptophan and the mood-determining brain chemical serotonin. Depression results when serotonin levels are too low for too long. 5-HTP increases the body's own serotonin which helps to regulate mood and performance levels and prevents the onset of numerous physical and psychological disorders.
5-HTP has been available in several European countries as a medicine since the 1970s. It has been used to treat depression, obesity, bulimia, insomnia, migraines, premenstrual syndrome, fibromyalgia and other disorders related to depressed serotonin levels.
Researchers have found the administration of 5-HTP results in a reduction of depression to the same degree anti-depressant drugs such as Prozac reduce depression Depressed patients who received 100 mg of 5-HTP, three times daily, showed at least a 50% improvement in their symptoms, without any reported side effects. Similar studies with depressed children demonstrated equal benefit.
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