Posted by SLS on November 17, 2021, at 9:44:59
In reply to Re: What can Tryptophan do that 5-HTP cannot?, posted by Lamdage22 on November 15, 2021, at 12:47:19
In 1992, the NIH (National Institutes of Health) performed an experiment on people with and without depression. The condition to be explored was a state of 5-HT (serotonin) depletion. This experiment has been repeated in other studies. The two study groups were given the same diet that always results in reduced 5-HT in the blood. This was accomplished by having the subjects ingest large amounts of a drink that had no tryptophan in it. Tryptophan is the only substance (amino acid) that the body can use to manufacture serotonin. The rate limiting step in the metabolic process is the conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP. From there, several other chemical compounds are derived, including serotonin and melatonin.
The results of the experiment demonstrated that people without depression experienced no changes in their mood. The people with depression experienced a significant worsening of their depressed mood.
The pathway that results in the manufacture of 5-HT (serotonin):
- tryptophan (amino acid) + tryptophan hydoxylase (enzyme) = 5-hydroxytryptomine (5-HTP) [rate-limiting step]
- 5-HTP + aromatic amino acid decarboxylase = 5-HT (SEROTONIN)
- 5-HT + serotonin N-acetyltransferase = N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine (MELATONIN): via NAT or NAS
*** OR ***
- Tryptophan Metabolism (Degradation) and the Kynurenine Pathway:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NznTdW311oU
* 5-HTP is ineffective in the treatment of depression, and has serious side effects if given long-term:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/
- ScottSome see things as they are and ask why.
I dream of things that never were and ask why not.The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.
poster:SLS
thread:1117303
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20211102/msgs/1117477.html