Serotonin has a way of lifting a mood, turning down pain and promoting restful sleep. The good news is your body is well able to make serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan.  The bad news is you store very little tryptophan at any one time. This means you may run low on serotonin for those feel good moments. 

Certain conditions are  found to be low in serotonin, too. Alcoholism, chronic pain, depression, spinal injuries, fibromyalgia (FM) and SEID (ME/chronic fatigue) to name a few. 

Oh, happy day! Wouldn’t it be great if you could get more of this feel good chemical when you need it? You can. In a supplement called 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan). 5-HTP helps your body make this happy chemical and offers other benefits too!

Let me explain. Your body makes serotonin by synthesizing tryptophan from food sources such as nuts, meat and dairy. The synthesis occurs with the help of special enzymes and nutrients in several biochemical reactions. 5-HTP is one step in the synthesis equation to serotonin. According to naturopathic doctor Michael Murray in his book on 5-HTP, over 70% of oral 5-HTP is converted to serotonin. By supplementing with 5-HTP, your body has the “raw material” to make serotonin. Since serotonin does not store in the body, providing a sustained release (SR) form means more serotonin is around at just the right times you need it. 

Serotonin is a wide-reaching chemical. 

As a neuro-transmitter, it affects cognitive function, mood, memory and logical reasoning, fosters relaxation and helps regulate sleep. As a hormone, serotonin helps regulate appetite and peristalsis (the rhythmic movement in the GI tract), to aid digestion and elimination. 

A low level of serotonin affects these functions. Thus, those with known low levels, such as fibromyalgia and SEID will experience symptoms of fibro-fog, poor sleep, increased pain, irritable bowel and possibly weight gain. 

Serotonin is required for sleep that makes you feel good on several levels. 

Quality sleep  improves your immunity, your ability to learn and remember, influences blood sugar levels, and helps your heart by decreasing stress. When you get into stage three or four sleep your body makes human growth hormone (HGH). HGH helps the body’s ability to repair itself and one of your anti-aging hormones. When you sleep well, you wake up refreshed and feeling good.

Serotonin affects pain levels. 

With pain, it is hard to smile, especially if pain is chronic and with you 24/7. Pain interferes with thinking, moving and your quality of life. How many things do you postpone or not do because of pain?  Low levels of serotonin may contribute to the amplified pain in fibromyalgia and delay the relief of chronic pain. Restoring levels can turn that pain dial down so you can participate in activities that make you happy.   

Another 5-HTP benefit is how 5-HTP might assist weight loss efforts.

Per Dr. Murray, optimal serotonin levels diminish hunger and carb cravings. With 5-HTP, you feel satiated without feeling “deprived” of food.  In a small study of 47 fibromyalgia subjects, researchers found a strong correlation between carb cravings and cognitive issues. Maybe less carbs also mean more “smarts” for those with fibro and others? 

How to get 5-HTP Benefits

As a supplement, 5-HTP is often sourced from the seeds of the West African shrub, griffonia simplicifolia.

to 300 mg). Space the sustained release (SR) form at least 5-6 hours apart to help maintain serotonin levels in a steady state. 

Try your first dose in the evening as 5-HTP may cause drowsiness in some individuals. Take at night if it does make you sleepy. For most, 5-HTP can be taken throughout the day to feel good and enjoy its many benefits! 

Safety & Cautions.  Studied for more than 40 years,  5-HTP’s safety record is well known. Before using, consult with your healthcare professional if pregnant or lactating, and if you are on a medication such as antidepressant SSRI or SRNI, MAO inhibitors or sedatives. 

David's 5-HTP SR™ is a sustained release that TyH offers to help keep  your feel good chemicals at optimal levels. Because the SR form release 5-HTP over time, this building block for serotonin stays in your system longer to "make more" serotonin  and maintain those levels for mood, pain and a happy weight.

©TyH Publications (M. Squires). For informational purposes only.

Read More about the Benefits of  5-HTP

• 5-HTP, Control Those Carbs
• 5-HTP SR, Why You May Need Sustained Release
• 5-HTP, The Serotonin Solution
  
• 5-HTP Serotonin, Happiness, the Brain & the Gut