5-Hydroxy Tryptophan May be Helpful to Depressed People

Depressed patients have a lack of a brain chemical called serotonin in the spaces or junctions between the nerve cells of the brain. The amino acid 5-hydroxy tryptophan is a building block to synthesize serotonin in the body. Providing the body with the amino acid tryptophan or 5-hydroxy tryptophan can increase levels of serotonin the nerve cell junctions and help to relieve depression. Analysis of 11 published studies has reported that of 451 depressed patients who took 50 to 600 milligrams daily of supplemental 5-hydroxy tryptophan daily,  244 or 54 % had their depression significantly reduced.  This work by Turner et al. was published in Pharmacology and Therapeutics 2006;109:325-38.

5-hydroxy-tryptophan is now available as a food supplement in vitamin and health food stores. Milk, beef , turkey, chicken and fish are also very rich in the amino acid tryptophan and are sometimes recommended for depressed patients to help rebuild their supplies of serotonin. Other studies have reported that 5-hydroxy tryptophan may be useful for treating insomnia as well.