Comment · Tue, January 23, 2018
5-HTP does or doesn't cross the blood barrier effectively?
Original post in this thread
gruberexn · 16 points
I was having this argument with a friend where I would quote the MDMA Supplementation Guide that says the following statement:
5-HTP can pass your blood brain barrier, while 5-HT cannot. This means that when you supplement 5-HTP, you want to make sure it gets converted to 5-HT in your brain and not your periphery. The enzyme that converts 5-HTP to 5-HT is aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase.
But, researching further, I found this paper:
5-HTP efficacy and contraindications
Which states the following:
* In central nervous system disease states associated with synaptic serotonin dysfunction, synaptic serotonin levels in the brain must be increased to induce optimal outcomes.
Serotonin does not cross the blood–brain barrier.
* 5-HTP freely crosses the blood–brain barrier.
* 5-HTP is freely converted to serotonin without biochemical feedback inhibition.
* When infinitely high amounts of 5-HTP are administered, it is theoretically possible to achieve infinitely high levels of serotonin. One limiting factor is the availability of the enzyme…
What they were answering
jackmasta01 · 1 points
Was just searching for why i experienced stomach issues and saw a 4y old comment and now this.
When i had tons of air in the upper stomach, the doc tried to prescribe me serotonin, and said something along the lines of "although >90% of it is produced in the gut". Serotonin from my research back then was that it affects gut motility. I did not get to ask the doc further which exact medication was he trying to prescribe me since when the pharmacy didnt issue anything.
Fast forward, the issue has since been partially resolved, and i tried 5htp for the antidepressant effect, mainly for sleep. The first time i tried it, i got so hungry in the midnight that i got back ache with it. I couldnt find any post of anyone experiencing this. I left it and then tried it again about 1 month later, and i thought well it didnt happen at the same time, but happened in the afternoon.
EGCG seems to be something i could try, but im afraid to try 5htp again. Coincidence or not, but anxiety is preventing me from trying it, even though i really want to rule it out.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb
Serotonin in the periphery definitely affects hunger. However, it is usually in the opposite direction. Ghrelin is what makes you hungry. You might have a paradoxical reaction, though.