{"id":2268,"date":"2023-11-21T09:43:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-21T09:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/supplementsyoucantrust.com\/?p=2268"},"modified":"2023-12-05T12:55:23","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T12:55:23","slug":"does-5-htp-help-with-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/supplementsyoucantrust.com\/does-5-htp-help-with-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Does 5-HTP Help With Anxiety?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

L-5 Hydroxytryptophan (or 5-HTP for short) is an amino acid that your body uses to produce the neurotransmitter serotonin.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Serotonin impacts every part of your body \u2013 from mood to motor skills \u2013 so maintaining healthy levels of 5-HTP is linked to mental and physical health.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there is still a lot of uncertainty over serotonin\u2019s effects, and does 5 HTP help with anxiety? So, we wrote this article to help clear up some misconceptions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5-HTP is created by our bodies using tryptophan \u2013 an amino acid found in foods such as eggs, seeds, salmon and turkey \u2013 and its main role is to produce serotonin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While this may not sound like much, it\u2019s hard to overstate the benefits of serotonin, as this neurotransmitter helps regulate everything from your anxiety levels to bowel movements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Low serotonin levels have been associated with anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, and various other health problems, so increasing your serotonin levels with 5-HTP could have many health benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because we cannot get 5-HTP from our diet (only its precursor, tryptophan), you should consider supplements if you\u2019re considering taking 5-HTP for anxiety or any other ailment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does 5-HTP Help With Anxiety?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

5-HTP is commonly used as an alternative treatment for anxiety instead of (or in addition to) conventional medication and treatment, but how effective is it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because 5-HTP increases serotonin levels in the brain \u2013 where it\u00a0helps regulate mood and anxiety<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 it is widely believed to help relieve anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple studies and clinical trials show that 5-HTP has anti-anxiety effects, although it\u2019s unclear if these effects are comparable to conventional anti-anxiety medication. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one double-blind study, over 50% of people with generalized anxiety reported a significant improvement in baseline anxiety when taking 5 HTP for anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of 5-HTP<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n
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As 5-HTP directly increases your serotonin levels, it\u2019s not too much of a stretch to say that the benefits of 5-HTP are the same as the benefits of serotonin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a neurotransmitter, serotonin sends signals between nerve cells throughout the body, regulating various biological functions, so increasing your levels with 5-HTP has lots of benefits, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aiding Weight Loss<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Serotonin may help to counteract hunger-inducing hormones that make it more difficult to lose weight, suppressing your appetite and supporting weight loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moreover, some studies show that 5-HTP may reduce excessive food intake due to stress or depression (or \u2018stress eating\u2019), so taking 5-HTP for anxiety may also help you lose weight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Helping with Depression<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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While the biological cause of depression is largely unknown, one explanation is that a serotonin imbalance or deficiency can adversely affect your mood. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, taking 5-HTP supplements to increase and\/or stabilise your serotonin levels could help treat depression, especially when combined with antidepressant medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving Fibromyalgia Symptoms<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Fibromyalgia, a condition characterized by chronic pain and fatigue has no known cause, though low serotonin levels are suspected to be a contributing factor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early research indicates that increasing serotonin by taking 5 HTP supplements may improve fatigue, muscle pain, and anxiety symptoms, so taking 5 HTP for anxiety may also alleviate fibromyalgia symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reducing Migraines<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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Migraines \u2013 throbbing headaches that often cause nausea or disturbed vision \u2013 are a common but poorly understood neurological disease, as they affect roughly 12% of people but their exact cause is still debated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Multiple studies found that daily 5-HTP supplements can prevent or reduce migraine attacks by as much as 70%, making them a potential treatment for people with migraines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Promoting Restful Sleep<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n
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5-HTP produces serotonin which can then be converted into melatonin which helps regulate sleep, meaning that 5-HTP supplements may increase the length and quality of your sleep. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improving your quality of sleep has a wide variety of health benefits, such as improving your mental health, so taking 5 HTP for anxiety could also help you achieve restful sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does 5-HTP Take to Work for Anxiety?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As 5-HTP has very few noticeable effects (except for increasing the production of serotonin), it can be difficult to pinpoint how long it takes to see its benefits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the dose and how frequently you take supplements, it may be some time before you see the benefits of 5 HTP for anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with any supplement, various factors (such as how much and how often you dose up) can affect the bioavailability of 5-HTP, though taking it with or before a meal can improve absorption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even in clinical trial conditions, it seems that the mental benefits of 5-HTP can take weeks to show up, so these supplements seem much better suited to long-term health than quick fixes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

RELATED:<\/strong> Read our article on Top Rated Stress Relief Supplements<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5-HTP Dosage for Anxiety and Depression<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because 5-HTP cannot be absorbed through your diet, a supplement is the only way to increase your 5-HTP (and, by extension your serotonin) levels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there is a lot of confusion over the recommended dosage, since government bodies like the NiH don\u2019t issue guidance on dietary supplements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, we can advise on the recommended doses of 5 HTP for anxiety, weight management, and more based on existing studies for these health issues, so here are some guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n