The neurotransmitter known as 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, has become increasingly popular as an effective sleep aid, helping people to both fall asleep faster and actually get into a deeper state of sleep so as to wake up feeling fresher and more energetic.
We also know that sceptical inquiry must not be neglected in the face of a potentially appealing new product, so let’s take a look at the truth behind some of the claims about 5-HTP and its effects on sleep.
Can You Sleep Longer and More Deeply With 5-HTP?
A 2010 study published in the American Journal of Therapeutics administered an amino acid preparation containing both GABA and 5-HTP to subjects.
A reduction in the time it took for subjects to fall asleep was then observed, with the baseline time falling from 32.3 minutes to 19.1. By comparison, the placebo group saw a reduction from 34.8 to 33.1 minutes
Not only did this administration reduce the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep when compared to placebo, it also exhibited an increase in both the duration of sleep (from 5 hours to 6.83) and the quality of sleep, demonstrated by a measurement of parasympathetic function as determined by 24-hour heart rate variability compared with placebo.
5-HTP and Serotonin
One of the more striking properties of 5-HTP is that it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier, where it is converted into serotonin[2].
This interesting factoid definitely strengthens the case for 5-HTP because serotonin itself is not actually able to cross the blood-brain barrier. This could have profound implications from suffers of anxiety and depression who have so far had little success with Prozac and other SSRI drugs, many of which have very unpleasant potential side effects.
One naturopathic physician reported a very interesting study involving 99 subjects who all suffered from therapy resistant depression. This means that these patients had received a range of antidepressant drugs in addition to electro convulsive therapy.
The physician is cited as stating: “These therapy resistant patients received 5-HTP at dosages averaging 200 mg daily but ranging from 50 to 600 mg per day. Complete recovery was seen in 43 of the 99.[3]”
No More Counting Sheep
It is important to remember that 5-HTP works largely on the basis of its conversion to serotonin, and as such is then able to affect its relaxant and mood-enhancing benefits.
When we circle back to our original focus of sleep, we can see how even those of us who do not suffer from depression of any kind may stand to benefit from a well-regulated intake of 5-HTP.
The most commonly recommended dosage of 5-HTP in the context of improved sleep is 200 – 400mg taken around 30 – 60 minutes before bed[4].
It may take a period of several weeks for some people to notice a difference so please stay patient, practice diligence in your dosing protocol by starting at the low end of the spectrum, and your days of sleeplessness will soon be over!
Get The Best 5-HTP Supplement
Now that you have seen the benefits of 5-HTP check out our premium 5-HTP supplement which provides up to 300mg/ day derived from the natural griffonia simplicifolia seed.
Our product comes with 90 capsules which can last one month if you take the maximum of 3 capsules per day. Our all-natural, vegetarian friendly product features is filled with premium quality ingredients without any fillers.
Purchase with confidence and start improving your sleep today.
References:
[1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19417589 [2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/ [3] http://www.5htp.com/5-htp.htm [4] https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/5hydroxytryptophan-5htp
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