Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) also known as oxitriptan (INN), is an amino acid that occurs naturally and chemical precursors as well as a metabolic intermediate in the biosynthesis of the neurotransmitters serotonin in the brain and melatonin from tryptophan. 5- HTP is sold over the counter as a dietary supplement and its usually one of the very best natural appetite suppressants used as an antidepressant, reduces appetite, reduces anxiety disorders and panic attacks, alcoholism related problems, PMS, obesity, eating disorders such as bulimia, compulsive disorders and also acts as a sleep aid(reduces Insomnia). Serotonin is a multipurpose neurotransmitter or precursor and one of its roles is one of impacting on a person’s appetite.
According to research made by doctors across the world, this connection to hunger, modulating serotonin levels and contribution to this great weight loses, companies are manufacturing drugs such as the Phentermine that impact on the levels of serotonin release.
A person’s body usually produces 5HTP in its metabolism which is then converted to serotonin. Serotonin is the one used to reduce a person’s appetite and also improves a persons moods and the overall resultant is weight reduction. Doctors usually recommend a 5HTP supplement compared to the serotonin one because research shows that serotonin cant access the brain directly from the bloodstream as compared to the way 5HTP can and that is fundamental in order to increase the level of serotonin in the brain. In the presence of higher levels of serotonin the brain, your hunger dissipates and you fill fuller more often.
In a research done by Italians groups with obese and hyperphagic adults (those who tend to eat too much food), each given 300 milligrams of 5-HTP pills to be taken 30 minutes before one has a meal showed that after one week of taking the pill each had lost about 7.2 pounds compared to others who had taken Palecabo pills loosing about 4 pounds each within a time span of about 12 weeks conducted with even no dieting in the first half of the research. This shows that weight loss due to 5-HTP is usually remarkable. During this research, there was not found any major side effects from the hypothesis and biochemical mechanisms to proof that 5-HTP act like an appetite suppressant unlike other weight loss drugs such as Redux and Fenfluramine that cause permanent damage to the heart valves to more than a third of all people who used them. 5HTP do not raise the level of serotonin in the body to a significant degree and it does not also block the reuptake of the same. It has been proven that 5HTP does not interfere with the process of serotonin release, its reabsorption, and elimination from the body hence considered as a better and safer way of weight reduction.
Doctors recommend the use of 5HTP for a period not exceeding five week because it occurs naturally inside our bodies hence not an external substance been introduced inside the body. However they recommend that before you take the 5HTP pills its important to make sure that you are not using anything that might be increasing your serotonin level or when you’re under any form of medication.