5-HTP: 5-HTP Dietary Supplements Help Raise Serotonin Levels In The Brain. Since Serotonin Helps Regulate Mood And Behavior, 5-HTP May Have A Positive Effect On Sleep, Mood, Anxiety, Appetite, And Pain Sensation.

5-HTP occurs naturally in the body. Typically, people produce enough for regular functioning, but some require supplementation. 5-HTP dietary supplements aid in increasing serotonin levels in the brain, significantly affecting mood and behavior.  Because serotonin regulates mood and behavior, 5-HTP may improve:  - Sleep - Mood - Anxiety - Hunger - Pain sensitivity Since 5-HTP is naturally present in the body, supplementing with it is a clean, holistic way to increase serotonin levels. 5-HTP is not found in the foods we eat, although tryptophan is found in foods. Eating foods with tryptophan does not increase 5-HTP levels very much, however. As a supplement, 5-HTP is made from the seeds of an African plant called Griffonia simplicifolia. In 1989, the presence of a contaminant called Peak X was found in tryptophan supplements. Researchers believed that an outbreak of eosinophilic myalgia syndrome (EMS, a potentially fatal disorder that affects the skin, blood, muscles, and organs) co