Posted by Larry Hoover on October 12, 2003, at 6:52:05
In reply to 5HTP with Vitamin B6 or not?, posted by John1022 on October 11, 2003, at 16:42:42
> I have read a couple of different posts about taking 5HTP along with vitiman B6. Some of the posts say to absolutely not take B6 with 5HTP, while others say it is definitely important to as B6 helps in the creation of seretonin.
>
> Is there a definite answer to this?No, as people will always find different conclusions from the same facts.
> What is the reasoning of not taking vitamin B6 with 5HTP?
B-6 is the vitamin cofactor that is essential for the enzyme that converts 5-HTP to serotonin. The "problem" that people are trying to control is an attempt to control the formation of serotonin outside the brain. 5-HTP is not normally found floating around in the blood-stream, as it would be if you took oral 5-HTP. The enzyme that does the conversion to serotonin is found throughout the body (it does other things too), so serotonin will be produced anywhere in the body that the enzyme, 5-HTP, and B-6 happen to find each other. The idea that you can limit the reaction by artificially creating a B-6 deficiency is moronic, IMHO. If it works peripherally, it will do the same thing in the brain. And every other reaction that requires B-6 to work will also be affected, as well. Might as well restrict oxygen consumption, while you're at it. <joking>
Serotonin is a potent regulatory chemical, and excess serotonin, or serotonin in places it's not normally found, *could* lead to adverse effects (they have not been proven to occur, but there are valid concerns that they might occur).
> 5HTP seems to really help with my type of depression, whereas I have had some pretty severe reactions to other AD's.That's pretty good information to have. You keep doing what works, ya know?
> Should I worry about build up of 5HTP in my blood?
As you have some experience with taking 5-HTP already, I wouldn't worry too much about adverse effects popping up now, that wouldn't already have occurred before this time.
Serotonin is a major regulatory of peristalsis, the rhythmic contractions of the digestive tract that propel food from your stomach to your bowel. There is more serotonin in your digestive tract than in your entire brain. So, taking 5-HTP can mess with your digestion, for example, but if it hasn't had that effect, I wouldn't worry about it. There was some concern raised by one particular doctor, about the possibility of heart valve damage from serotonin, something that is seen in serotonin-secreting cancer called carcinoid, but I think that would have been seen by now (millions of people taking 5-HTP, no link to heart valve damage so far).
> Some say it is not able to cross over to the brain. That is definitely not true as I without a doubt feel benificial affects hours after taking it.
5-HTP apparently crosses the blood-brain barrier without requiring the assistance of transporters, unlike tryptophan.
> Should I look into taking L-Tyrosine along with 5HTP to avoid tolerance?Quite the contrary, in some people's opinion. From my understanding, tyrosine potentiates 5-HTP's effects. And, I can't quite conceive of how tolerance to 5-HTP could occur.
> What about looking into Carbida as a prescription while using 5HTP because of the high blood level of seretonin issue?Carbidopa is not a drug I would take without a compelling medical reason. IMHO, if you don't have Parkinson's, stay the heck away from it.
> Will either Tyrosine or Carbida make the 5HTP less effective in any way?In my understanding, both substances enhance the psychoactive effects of 5-HTP.
> Thanks for any suggestionsMore questions welcomed,
Lar
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:268398
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20031003/msgs/268625.html