5-HTP benefits are plenty as 5-HTP or 5-Hydroxytryptophan is an amino acid that your body produces. It appears that 5-HTP benefits are super important because 5-HTP can treat more than one health problem.

So lately, you can find 5-HTP supplements anywhere as it’s commercially produced.

It’s widely known these days. And it comes from the seeds of Griffonia Simplicifolia which is an African shrub.

5-HTP helps our body produce serotonin that sends messages between nerve cells in the brain. By increasing the production of serotonin, your body may gain more benefits. That’s why it’s commercially popular nowadays.

5-HTP supplements may treat depression as it has become more common lately.

Low levels of serotonin can cause some serious problems such as:

That’s why 5-HTP contributes to many health benefits.

5-HTP Benefits:

1- May Treat Depression

Scientists do not know what could cause depression. But they believe that low levels of serotonin can influence your mood. And it could cause depression.

So taking 5-HTP supplements can increase serotonin levels. And this can help treat depression.

A study showed that 5-HTP supplements can reduce the symptoms of depression in adult women.

Another study showed that taking 5-HTP supplements may treat depression.

Researchers found that taking 5-HTP supplements with antidepressant medication is more beneficial and stronger compared to when they are taken alone.

2- Reduces Migraines

Some researchers think that low levels of serotonin can cause a migraine .

A study chose 124 people who have migraines and divided them into two groups. Then researchers treated the patients randomly. The first group was treated with 5-HTP supplements and the other group with methysergide. Methysergide is a common migraine medication.

The study showed a significant improvement in 71% of the patients who treated with 5-HTP supplements. the patients took 5-HTP for six months every day. The number of migraine attacks decreased or prevented.

Another two studies found that 5-HTP supplements could help you get rid of migraines.

3- Improves The Symptoms Of Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a long-term condition that causes pain all over your body. The exact cause of this condition is unknown until now. But low serotonin levels contributed to the condition.

A study showed that 5-HTP supplements may improve the symptoms of primary fibromyalgia syndrome after 90 days of the treatment.

So 5-HTP may reduce the symptoms that people with fibromyalgia suffer from. Symptoms are like:

pain.

tenderness.

fatigue and anxiety.

sleep problems.

Another study gave fibromyalgia sufferers a combination of monoamine-oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and 5-HTP supplements. The result was significant as the pain reduced. But we need more and newer research to confirm these results.

4- Helps You Lose weight

The supplements may help you feel full. So 5-HTP reduces your calorie intake by eating less and as a result, you lose weight.

In a study, 20 diabetic patients randomly divided into two groups. The first group took the 5-HTP supplement and the other one took placebo for two weeks.

It showed the group that took 5-HTP supplements lost weight. They decreased their daily energy intake. Also, they decreased carbohydrate intake which led to better blood sugar control.

Another two studies showed that the supplements have an effective role in decreasing appetite. Obese adults lost weight after taking the supplements as 5-HTP can reduce food cravings. The supplements also promote the feeling of fullness.

5- Helps You Sleep Better

5-HTP helps our body produce serotonin as we said earlier. When serotonin is available, melatonin can be produced.

Melatonin is a hormone that helps you fall asleep. Its levels rise in the evening so you could sleep. Melatonin levels fall in the morning to help keep you awake.

The supplements increase the production of melatonin in your body. This helps you sleep well.

A study showed that combine 5-HTP and GABA help reduce sleep latency. Moreover, 5-HTP and GABA can improve the quality of sleep and increase the duration of sleep.

There are some animal and insect studies showed that using a mixture of GABA and 5-HTP can lead to better sleeping. The studies showed also that the mixture can improve the quality of sleep.

6- Reduces The Symptoms Of Parkinson’s Disease

Taking the supplements daily with the other conventional medication for a month could reduce shaking. But this improvement lasts for only 5 months.

5-HTP Possible Side Effects

There are some common side effects that some people might experience such as:

Diarrhea and nausea.

Dizziness.

Heartburn.

Bloating.

Vomiting and stomachache.

Keep in mind that these side effects can get worse if you increase the dose. So you should start with a small dose of about 50-100 mg twice a day. Then gradually increase the dose if you don’t experience any side effects.

Some people who took the supplements developed a condition called eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. It’s a serious condition causes extreme muscle pain, muscle cramps, and blood abnormalities.

Also, combing 5-HTP supplements with medications that increase the production of serotonin could cause serotonin syndrome. This syndrome is a life-threatening condition.

Moreover, there is not enough available information about the safety of taking 5-HTP supplements during pregnancy. So it’s better to not take it.

Dosage

The recommended dosage :

Migraines : 100-200 mg, 3 times a day. To notice a difference you should take it for 3 weeks.

: 100-200 mg, 3 times a day. To notice a difference you should take it for 3 weeks. Weight Loss : take 250-300 mg before a meal.

: take 250-300 mg before a meal. Depression : 150 mg per day.

: 150 mg per day. Fibromyalgia symptoms: 100 mg, 3 times a day for at least 3 weeks to notice a difference.

It’s highly recommended to consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Some medications could interact with 5-HTP which can cause serious health problems. So talk to your doctor before taking 5-HTP to make sure it’s safe for you.

Now, you can buy 5-HTP supplements online: