Douglas Laboratories 5-HTP 50 Mg
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Product Details
- Brand: Douglas Laboratories
- Product Code: 5-htp-50-mg-DGL
- Servings per Container: 100
- Quantity per Container: 100 Veg Capsules
Serotonin, an important brain neurotransmitter, is key in the regulation of appetite, mood, and melatonin production. The presence of serotonin in the brain is associated with a balanced emotional state. This is achieved in part by decreasing the activity of certain excitatory hormones, including dopamine and noradrenaline.
Serotonin also acts as a satiety signal in the brain, thereby naturally regulating food intake. Additionally, as a precursor of melatonin, serotonin is involved in regulating sleep patterns. Serotonin is unable to cross the blood-brain barrier and is therefore synthesized in the brain.
Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is a precursor for the synthesis of serotonin. Tryptophan crosses the blood-brain barrier and is converted to L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), which in turn is converted into serotonin. Unfortunately, tryptophan faces many obstacles during its journey into brain tissue.
First, dietary intake directly affects body levels of tryptophan, as the body can not produce it endogenously. High protein diets often provide greater amounts of tryptophan, yet higher carbohydrate diets appear to enhance tryptophan uptake into the brain.
Secondly, tryptophan must compete with other amino acids for entry into the brain. Finally, tryptophan may be taken up by other tissues for protein or niacin synthesis, and thus is not exclusively for use by the brain.
As a metabolic intermediate in the conversion of tryptophan into serotonin, 5-HTP can also serve as a precursor of serotonin. 5-HTP offers a number of advantages over tryptophan. 5-HTP is derived naturally from the seeds of the Griffonia plant, unlike tryptophan which is produced synthetically or through bacterial fermentation. 5-HTP crosses into the brain more readily than tryptophan as it is able to cross the blood-brain barrier without competition for uptake. 5-HTP is significantly more useful than tryptophan; one 50mg capsule of 5-HTP is roughly equivalent to 500mg of tryptophan.
Professional-grade products adhere to the strictest standards for purity and potency, and use the highest-grade ingredients available.
Nutrition Facts
Each vegetarian capsule contains:
L-5-Hydroxytryptophan 50mg
Other Ingredients: cellulose and vegetable stearate.
Recommended Use:
Adults: As a dietary supplement, adults take one to two capsules per day, between meals or as recommended by a healthcare professional. Vitamin B6 is necessary for the conversion of 5-HTP to serotonin; thus, to derive optimal benefits of 5-HTP, one must ensure an adequate intake of vitamin B6.
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