Posted by saturn on November 28, 2006, at 20:16:07
In reply to Re: tryptophan, posted by SLS on November 26, 2006, at 14:55:35
> > Scott,
> > Tryptophan?
> > Is that 5-HT?
>
> 5-HT is the chemical designation for serotonin. When serotonin receptors are described, they are usually designated as 5-HT receptors.
>
> 5-HT = 5-hydroxytryptamine = serotonin
>
> The pathway through which serotonin is manufactured in the body starts with the amino-acid, tryptophan.
>
> tryptophan > 5-HTP > 5-HT
>
> The conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase is the rate-limiting step in this manufacturing process. The second step occurs more quickly. Since 5-HTP crosses into the brain more readily than tryptophan, it is actually a more effective precursor strategy to use 5-HTP rather than tryptophan to augment antidepressants.
>
>
> - ScottHey Scott,
You are *way* more knowledgeable than myself on this stuff and I often learn so much from your posts. That said, I'd once read that the problem with 5-HTP is that even if has easier CNS penetrance than tryptophan, that in actuality the bulk of 5-HTP is converted rather quickly into serotonin *in the blood stream*--before it can cross the blood brain barrier (I'm assuming pure serotonin doesn't cross the blood brain barrier).
So the net effect is increased blood serotonin with neglibeable serotonin changes in the brain. I apologize that I can't provide this reference. Please let me know if this is incorrect. Thanks.
Peace...Saturn.
poster:saturn
thread:706347
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20061123/msgs/708349.html