5-HTP Benefits for Anxiety, Depression, Sleep

5-HTP Benefits for Anxiety, Depression, Sleep

Millions of people suffer with anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.

5-HTP is a popular supplement
promoted as a natural remedy for all three of these conditions.

But there are some concerns about 5-HTP safety and doubts as to whether it works as well as we’ve been led to believe.

Let’s take an in-depth look at the benefits and side effects of 5-HTP to see whether it’s a safe and effective remedy for mood disorders and insomnia.

5-HTP: What Is It? What Is It Good For?

5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) is an amino acid that your body naturally manufactures.

It’s not found in food, but is created from another amino acid, tryptophan.

Trytophan is found in high-protein animal foods like meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and eggs.

5-HTP supplements are usually produced from Griffonia simplicifolia, a woody African shrub.

This plant’s seeds naturally contain 20% 5-HTP. 

In the United States, 5-HTP is sold as an over-the-counter supplement for a variety of conditions including anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, migraines, ADHD, and fibromyalgia.

It’s also a popular weight loss aid since it can help reduce appetite. 

The reason 5-HTP is potentially useful for so many different disorders is that, once it’s ingested, it gets converted into two important “master” chemicals — serotonin and melatonin.

You can see the pathways connecting tryptophan, 5-HTP, serotonin, and melatonin in the diagram below.

Image courtesy of Dr. Katherine Chung

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter known as the “happy molecule” for its role in supporting a positive mood.

This major neurotransmitter also regulates learning, memory, appetite regulation, and sleep. 

People low in this brain chemical often suffer from depression, anxiety, insomnia, low self-esteem, negative thoughts, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), and SAD (seasonal affective disorder).