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5-HTP Capsules (100mg)
For supporting mood, sleep, and emotional balance. Natural 5-HTP (amino acid), derived from the seeds of the African black bean.
Product features
- 5-HTP = a unique amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin (the "happy hormone")
- 100 mg per capsule, a clinically studied dose
- Supports mood, sleep, and emotional well-being
- Naturally derived from the seeds of the African black bean
- Also studied in connection with migraine and weight management
What are the benefits?
With our 5-HTP supplement, we offer a product that specifically supports mood, sleep, and inner balance.
5-HTP is an amino acid that the body converts directly into serotonin, the so-called "happy hormone" and a natural messenger substance primarily responsible for regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and pain perception. For our formula, we use naturally derived 5-HTP from the seeds of the African black bean (Griffonia simplicifolia), a plant with a particularly high natural content of 5-HTP.
What is 5-HTP?5-HTP stands for 5-hydroxytryptophan and is an amino acid that the body produces from the essential amino acid tryptophan, which we obtain through food. Unlike tryptophan, 5-HTP can cross the blood-brain barrier directly, where it's immediately converted into serotonin. This makes it a particularly efficient precursor in the serotonin pathway and explains why 5-HTP is increasingly being studied as a natural way to support serotonin levels.
What is serotonin?Serotonin is a neurotransmitter produced in the brain and gut that plays a central role in our mental and physical well-being. It influences how we feel, how well we sleep, how we cope with stress, and even how strongly we experience hunger. A balanced serotonin level is associated with stable mood, emotional resilience, and a healthy sleep-wake rhythm, while low levels are often linked to low mood, sleep problems, and increased cravings for carbohydrates and sugar.
What science says about 5-HTP.
5-HTP is one of the most well-studied plant-based compounds for supporting serotonin metabolism. Clinical studies have explored its potential benefits for several decades, with particular focus on its effects on mood, sleep, appetite, and pain perception.
- Mood & emotional balance: Since serotonin plays an important role in mood, 5-HTP has already been studied in numerous clinical trials. The results suggest that 5-HTP may positively affect mood. Its potential in this area continues to be researched today.
- Sleep quality: Since serotonin contributes to the body's production of melatonin, 5-HTP is also being studied in relation to sleep. Early studies show improvements in subjective sleep quality, particularly in people with sleep problems.
- Appetite & weight management: Several studies report increased feelings of fullness and lower calorie intake with 5-HTP. For this reason, the ingredient is also being studied in connection with appetite regulation and weight management.
- Pain perception: 5-HTP is also being researched in relation to chronic conditions like fibromyalgia or migraine. Early studies report improvements in various symptoms, including pain, sleep quality, and fatigue.
- Other areas of research: Scientists are also investigating the potential use of 5-HTP in other areas, such as stress processing or as a complementary approach for certain neurological and psychological conditions. Research in this area continues to evolve.
Our Women's Best 5-HTP Capsules were developed to specifically support mood, inner balance, and sleep quality. They're especially well suited for people dealing with high mental strain in everyday life, who find it hard to switch off, who want more balance, or who wish to support their natural sleep-wake rhythm. The formula, with natural 5-HTP from Griffonia simplicifolia, delivers the direct precursor to serotonin and complements your daily routine as targeted support for your well-being.
How do I take it?
Take 1 capsule daily, either during the day or 30–60 minutes before bedtime. Take with or without a meal.
Important note:
5-HTP should not be taken together with medications that increase serotonin levels or serotonin activity without consulting a doctor, for example:
- Antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, MAO inhibitors)
- Triptans (used to treat migraine)
- Parkinson's medications containing carbidopa
- Dextromethorphan (found in some over-the-counter cough medicines)
Ingredients
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The path to serotonin: L-tryptophan vs. 5-HTP.
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid that the body first converts into 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a natural precursor of the neurotransmitter serotonin. 5-HTP is then converted into serotonin, a neurotransmitter (messenger substance) that influences mood, appetite, and sleep, among other things. Serotonin, in turn, serves as the starting material for producing melatonin, the sleep hormone.
However, since L-tryptophan is also needed for numerous other processes, including protein synthesis and the production of niacin (vitamin B3) and other metabolic byproducts, only a small portion of it is actually used for serotonin production. 5-HTP, on the other hand, has almost no other metabolic functions in the body, meaning that nearly 100% of the 5-HTP taken is actually converted into serotonin.
Maffei, M. E. (2020). 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(1), 181.
100% balanced.
Shorter, milder migraine attacks.
In migraine patients, or those who frequently suffer from headaches, serotonin metabolism is often altered. Studies show that serotonin levels are frequently lower between migraine attacks, and a further drop in serotonin may contribute to triggering an attack.
In one study, 124 migraine patients received either 5-HTP or methysergide, a medication formerly used for migraine prevention that is no longer approved today due to severe side effects.
In the methysergide group, 75% of patients reported significant improvement in their symptoms, compared to 71% in the 5-HTP group. At the same time, migraine attacks were less intense and shorter with 5-HTP, while significantly fewer side effects occurred compared to methysergide.
Santucci, M., Cortelli, P., Rossi, P. G., Baruzzi, A., & Sacquegna, T. (1986). L‐5‐Hydroxytryptophan versus placebo in childhood migraine prophylaxis: a double‐blind crossover study. Cephalalgia, 6(3), 155-157.
Titus, F., Dávalos, A., Alom, J., & Codina, A. (1986). 5-hydroxytryptophan versus methysergide in the prophylaxis of migraine: Randomized clinical trial. European neurology, 25(5), 327-329.
Support for your sleep-wake rhythm.
Serotonin is the direct precursor of the sleep hormone melatonin, into which it is converted in the pineal gland when it gets dark. This hormone signals to the body that it's time to sleep, helping regulate the natural sleep-wake rhythm.
In 2024, researchers in Singapore studied how taking 5-HTP affects sleep disturbances. The results showed that after 12 weeks of supplementation, both sleep quality and blood serotonin levels increased, while no corresponding change was seen in the control group.
Particularly interesting was that among participants who slept poorly at the start of the study, gut flora diversity increased over the course of the study. This suggests that 5-HTP may also help improve sleep via the gut-brain axis.
Sutanto, C. N., Xia, X., Heng, C. W., Tan, Y. S., Lee, D. P. S., Fam, J., & Kim, J. E. (2024). The impact of 5-hydroxytryptophan supplementation on sleep quality and gut microbiota composition in older adults: A randomized controlled trial. Clinical Nutrition, 43(3), 593-602.
Tian PeiJun, T. P., Wang Gang, W. G., Zhao JianXin, Z. J., Zhang Hao, Z. H., & Chen Wei, C. W. (2019). Bifidobacterium with the role of 5-hydroxytryptophan synthesis regulation alleviates the symptom of depression and related microbiota dysbiosis.
How serotonin regulates appetite.
In the brain, serotonin affects not only mood and sleep but also plays an important role in appetite regulation. It signals to the body when a meal has been sufficient, helping create a natural feeling of fullness.
There's evidence that reduced serotonin activity may be linked to increased appetite, sugar cravings, and emotional eating, since in such situations, people more often reach for calorie-dense foods to compensate for the missing sense of well-being.
Various studies have shown that 5-HTP can help curb appetite and support weight loss, as taking it alongside meals appears to increase satiety and, in turn, reduce calorie intake.
Maffei, M. E. (2020). 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP): Natural occurrence, analysis, biosynthesis, biotechnology, physiology and toxicology. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(1), 181.
Depression: effects comparable to antidepressants.
Depressive moods are often accompanied by reduced serotonin production. Because of this, 5-HTP was already being used to treat depression back in the 1970s, though it was later largely replaced by modern antidepressants.
In one study, 60 patients with depression took either 5-HTP or an antidepressant for eight weeks. Both showed similar effectiveness. After just 2 weeks, depression noticeably improved in 73.3% of participants in the 5-HTP group and 80% in the fluoxetine group. In a further 8-week study, the remission rate (complete symptom relief) was 65%, with the effect strengthening the longer the supplement was taken.
Jangid, P., Malik, P., Singh, P., & Sharma, M. (2013). Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode. Asian journal of psychiatry, 6(1), 29-34.
Javelle, F., Lampit, A., Bloch, W., Häussermann, P., Johnson, S. L., & Zimmer, P. (2020). Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutrition reviews, 78(1), 77-88.
Plant-based capsule shell by Vcaps®.
More and more people are opting for vegetarian options when choosing dietary supplements. That's why for our capsule shells we use purely plant-based ingredients from Vcaps®, a brand certified by the Vegetarian Society.
Quality you can trust.
We take quality seriously, and our Women's Best 5-HTP Capsules are manufactured to the strictest standards in Germany. Each batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it meets our high standards when it comes to quality and effectiveness.
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