Is 5-HTP Safe to Use for Depression?
Is 5-HTP Safe to Use for Depression?Answer: Chemically speaking, 5-HTP is a transitional compound produced when the body converts the amino acid Tryptophan into other compounds such as Serotonin and Melatonin. Concerns about 5-HTP have arisen because its precursor, L-Tryptophan, was banned by the FDA in November of 1990. The FDA’s decision to remove all tryptophan-containing supplements from store shelves was in response to an outbreak of Eosinophilia – Myalgia Syndrome (EMS) that was linked to the use of tryptophan. EMS is a dangerous and potentially deadly blood disease that is usually associated with parasitic infections or severe allergy. From July of 1989 to December of 1990, more than 1500 cases of EMS and 27 deaths were associated with the outbreak in the United States. In a report released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in August of 1992, researchers revealed the tryptophan was not the cause of the EMS outbreak. The CDC, working with scientists from the Mayo Clinic, t
