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Clinicians 5-HTP Mood Care | 60 Capsules

Clinicians 5-HTP Mood Care | 60 Capsules

$39.09
$39.09
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Clinicians 5-HTP Mood Care

What is 5-HTP Mood Care?

5-HTP Mood Care is a dietary supplement containing a natural herbal source of 5-Hydroxytryptophan, which is a building block for serotonin, an important brain chemical that regulates many body activities including sleep, appetite and mood. 5-HTP Mood Care supports mood balance, relaxation and sleep quality and may help ease muscular discomfort when stressed or fatigued.

Why use 5-HTP Mood Care?

Serotonin is an important brain chemical that regulates many physiological processes including sleep, appetite and mood. 5-Hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP extracted from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, is the main ingredient of 5-HTP Mood Care and is a precursor for serotonin synthesis. 5-HTP Mood Care is a natural herbal dietary supplement that supports mood balance, relaxation and sleep quality, and may also help ease muscular discomfort when stressed or fatigued.

What are the Key Benefits of 5-HTP Mood Care?

  • Natural plant formula that promotes and maintains balanced serotonin levels
  • Supports mood balance and reduces anxiety
  • Promotes relaxation and improves sleep quality
  • Helps with symptoms of muscular discomfort when stressed or fatigued
  • Does not contain sugar or artificial sweeteners
  • Does not contain added colours, flavours, preservatives, gluten, wheat or dairy

What is a serotonin?

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, which is a brain chemical that allows nerve cells to communicate. Serotonin (5-hydroxytrymtamine or 5-HT) acts directly on the nerve pathways in brain and works by passing messages between nerve cells (neurones) in the area of the brain that regulates mood, as well as many other body activities, including sleep, appetite, temperature control, pain sensation and sexual behaviour. Maintaining balanced serotonin levels is important for supporting mental wellbeing by improving low moods, reducing stress and anxiety, and improving sleep quality.

What is serotonin syndrome?

High doses of serotonin can cause symptoms of too much serotonin in the brain. This can happen as a side effect of certain medications that increase serotonin levels, particularly antidepressant medications, or if more than one type of serotonin increasing medication is used simultaneously. Symptoms of serotonin syndrome include agitation, anxiety, confusion, tremor, increased reflexes, muscle spasm, muscle rigidity, high blood pressure, rapid or irregular heart rate, raised body temperature, rapid breathing, dilated pupils, profuse sweating, shivering, vomiting, diarrhoea.

What is an anxiolytic?

An anxiolytic is a substance that can relieve anxiety, aid sleep, or have a calming effect and is used to treat symptoms of various anxiety disorders. Anxiety is factor in sleep disruption and if reduced this can help restore quality sleep patterns. An anxiolytic can also help support mental and physical relaxation.

What is melatonin?

Melatonin is known as the sleep hormone, as it is essential for quality sleep. It is produced in the pineal gland of the brain and secretion of melatonin is triggered by darkness. Melatonin is produced at night and regulates the natural sleep/wake cycle, which determines when it is time to sleep and when it is time to wake and is controlled by the circadian rhythm. This is the body’s internal clock that controls cyclical changes in the body like sleep, body temperature and hormone secretion over a 24-hour period.

What is the blood brain barrier?

Every part of the body is supplied with blood by the smallest blood vessels of the vascular system called capillaries. These tiny blood vessels (microvasculature) can control the exchange of gases, ions, proteins and other essential nutrients into the tissues and organs of the body. The microvascular of the brain has special properties that closely regulate everything that passes from the blood into the brain including harmful chemicals and pathogens. This blood brain barrier protects the brain and ensures that proper brain cell function is maintained.

What is the main ingredient in 5-HTP Mood Care?

Each capsule of 5-HTP Mood Care contains 50mg 5-Hydroxytryptophan

Griffonia simplicifolia:

Griffonia simplicifolia is a tropical shrub native to West Africa. The seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia are rich in 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a naturally occurring amino acid and precursor for the neurotransmitter serotonin. Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract has been used traditionally as an herbal remedy for sleep problems and is used in contemporary herbal medicine to improve conditions where serotonin is thought to play an important role and serotonin deficiency is thought to be a possible cause1. 5-HTP is now prepared commercially from extract of Griffonia simplicifolia seeds which contain up to 20% 5-HTP total seed weight2.

Why is 5-HTP important and how does it work in our body?

5-HTP, which is the active ingredient in 5-HTP Mood Care capsules, is a precursor for the synthesis of serotonin. 5-HTP is well absorbed into the blood from the gastrointestinal system and is not affected by food. The first stage of serotonin synthesis is the conversion of the amino acid tryptophan into 5-HTP, which is then converted to serotonin. The enzymic conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP can be affected by various factors including stress and vitamin and mineral deficiency, whereas supplementation with 5-HTP bypasses this step. Also, tryptophan is used in other metabolic processes and therefore, may be limited for use in the brain. Tryptophan is dependent on a transport molecule to cross the blood brain barrier, which it shares with other amino acids and this can limit its availability to the brain3. Serotonin is also used by other cells in the body such as blood platelets, where it is needed for the blood clotting process, and in the cells of the intestinal lining, but for serotonin to be available to brain cells it must be synthesised in the brain, as serotonin cannot cross the blood brain barrier. Unlike serotonin, 5-HTP freely crosses the blood brain barrier where it is readily converted into serotonin, increasing serotonin levels in the brain, which increases stimulation of nerve pathways that control mood, sleep and other activities. Serotonin is also a precursor for melatonin and increasing levels of both serotonin and melatonin have been demonstrated following oral administration of 5-HTP1.

5-HTP Mood Care for mood balance:

Tryptophan depletion, as a means of reducing serotonin levels in the brain, has been linked to symptoms of anxiety and depression, and animal studies have demonstrated that administration of 5-HTP increases the levels of serotonin in the brain4, 5. The anxiolytic effect of 5-HTP was demonstrated in an animal model using extract of Griffonia simplicifolia6. The outcome of reviews of clinical studies, indicated that extracts of plant derived 5-HTP may be effective in treating symptoms of depression1 and that 5-HTP is more effective than placebo in alleviating depression7, 8.

5-HTP Mood Care for improved sleep:

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is synthesised in the pineal gland at the base of the brain, which lies outside the blood brain barrier. The precursor for melatonin synthesis is the amino acid tryptophan which is obtained for the diet and is converted first to 5-HTP then to serotonin and finally to melatonin by a series of enzyme reactions. Melatonin synthesis is strictly regulated by circadian rhythm. Animal studies have demonstrated that 5-HTP may have sleep-inducing properties and may be acting on the GABA system in the brain, which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter pathway9. Supplementation with tryptophan, as a precursor for 5-HTP and serotonin synthesis, supported improved sleep in clinical and preclinical studies and was found to shorten time it takes to get to sleep, and increase overall sleep quantity and quality3. Serotonin was also found to improve mood and reduce anxiety, promoting relaxation and calm, which prepares for sleep10.

5-HTP Mood Care for primary fibromyalgia syndrome:

Primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) has been described as a form of depressive disorder that manifests in physical symptoms including musculoskeletal pain11. Sleep problems, fatigue and difficulty concentrating are also symptoms of PFS. The serotonin pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PFS, and supplementation with tryptophan and 5-HTP has been found to improve symptoms in some patients with PFS12, 13. Clinical studies with serotoninergic medications including antidepressants, have also indicated a role for increasing serotonin levels in reducing symptoms of PFS14.

Other Ingredients:

5-HTP Mood Care also contains calcium lactate (48mg/capsule), magnesium stearate, silicon dioxide, tapioca powder.

What are the Contraindications/Interactions of 5-HTP Mood Care?

You should always check the ingredients for known allergies and to ensure you do not have any allergies or sensitivities to these ingredients. Stop using if you develop any irritation or allergy while taking 5-HTP Mood Care. Always read the label and use as directed or seek advice from your healthcare professional.

Caution:

If you are taking any medication or supplements for a mental health condition you should consult your health professional before you start taking 5-HTP Mood Care.

Do not use:
  • You should not use 5-HTP Mood Care if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding, as little is known about the effect of 5-HTP during pregnancy. 
  • You should not use 5-HTP Mood Care if you are taking antidepressant medication, particularly a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), unless under supervision of a health professional. 5-HTP Mood Care can cause serotonin syndrome if taken with these medications. 
Side effects:

Occasional side effects reported while taking 5-HTP Mood Care include nausea, diarrhoea dizziness, and drowsiness. These symptoms may be reduced by lowering the dose of 5-HTP Mood Care.

What are the Interactions with 5-HTP Mood Care?

The following medications interact with 5-HTP Mood Care and should either not be taken while you are taking 5-HTP Mood Care or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:
  • SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants like fluoxetine and paroxetine; MOI (monoamine oxidase) antidepressants like tranylcypromine; SNRI (selective serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors) antidepressants like amitriptyline; carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease; herbal supplements like St John’s Wort, as these can cause serotonin syndrome if taken with 5-HTP Mood Care.
  • The serotonin antagonists methysergide for migraines and the antihistamine cyproheptadine can reduce the effectiveness of 5-HTP Mood Care. 

What are the Directions for using 5-HTP Mood Care?

Dosage:

Take 1-3 capsules of 5-HTP Mood Care at night or as directed. 5-HTP Mood Care can be taken with food to reduce side effects. You can take 5-HTP Mood Care long term, or as directed by your healthcare professional.

Product Size

60 Capsules

References

The following references provide scientific support for the use of this product:
  1. Birdsall TC. 5-Hydroxytryptophan: a clinically-effective serotonin precursor. Altern Med Rev 1998; 3: 271-80.
  2. Lemaire P, Adosraku RK. An HPLC method for the direct assay of the serotonin precursor, 5-hydroxytrophan, in seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia. Phytochem Anal. 2002;13: 333-7. 
  3. Jenkins TA, Nguyen JCD, Polglaze KE, Bertrand PB. Influence of Tryptophan and Serotonin on Mood and Cognition with a Possible Role of the Gut- Brain Axis Nutrients. 2016, 8, 56. 
  4. Mendelsohn D, Riedel WJ, Sambeth A. Effects of acute tryptophan depletion on memory, attention and executive functions: a systematic review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2009;33:926–52. 
  5. Weinberg-Wolf H, Fagan NA, Anderson GM, Tringides M, Dal Monte O, and Chang SWC. The effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on attention and central serotonin neurochemistry in the rhesus macaque. Neuropsychopharmacology (2018) 43:1589 – 1598
  6. Carnevale GD, Viesti V, Zavatti M, Zanoli P. Anxiolytic-like effect of Griffonia simplicifolia Baill. seed extract in rats. Phytomedicine.2011 Jul 15;18(10):848-51. 
  7. Shaw K, Turner J, Del Mar C. Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2002;(1):CD003198.
  8. Turner EH, Loftis JM, Blackwell AD. Pharmacol Ther. 2006;109: 325-38. Serotonin a la carte: supplementation with the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan. 
  9. Hong KB, Park Y, Suh HJ. Sleep-promoting effects of the GABA/5-HTP mixture in vertebrate models. Behav Brain Res.2016 Sep 1;310:36-41 
  10. Silber BY, Schmitt JA. Effects of tryptophan loading on human cognition, mood, and sleep. Neurosci Biobehav Rev.2010 Mar;34(3):387-407. Fibromyalgia
  11. Alfici S, Sigal M, Landau M. Primary fibromyalgia syndrome--a variant of depressive disorder? Psychother Psychosom.1989;51(3):156-61.
  12. Sarzi Puttini P, Caruso I. Primary fibromyalgia syndrome and 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan: a 90-day open study. J Int Med Res.1992;20:182-9. 
  13. Juhl JH. Fibromyalgia and the serotonin pathway. Altern Med Rev.1998 Oct;3(5):367-75.
  14. Miller LJ, Kubes KL. Serotonergic agents in the treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome. Ann Pharmacother.2002 Apr;36(4):707-12.