By Alissa B Daschbach MA BS BA MH

Elevate’s 5-HTP is sourced from Griffonia simplicifolia seed extract - a plant medicine that improves disturbed sleeping patterns, lifts the mood and helps to relieve chronic pain symptoms. In this article, you will learn in depth details about how 5-HTP boosts serotonin levels to improve mood and symptoms of depression.

If you are struggling with excessive stress, anxiety, or low moods, you may benefit from taking 5-HTP. 5-hydroxytryptophan, or 5-HTP, is used by the brain to boost serotonin levels throughout the neurological system. Keep in mind that serotonin is an essential neurotransmitter or chemical messenger that plays a central role in mood regulation. Appropriate levels of serotonin will improve mood and symptoms of depression while stimulating the appetite and promoting healthy sleep patterns. The 5-HTP in Elevate is derived from the seed extract of Griffonia simplicifolia- an African plant that has been used in traditional medicine to improve sleep patterns, lift the mood and relieve chronic pain symptoms. Read on to discover the mood-lifting and sleep-regulating benefits of Elevate’s essential ingredient, 5-HTP.

5-HTP: Background and Benefits

5-HTP is an amino acid that naturally occurs in the human body that acts a precursor for many essential neurotransmitters (chemicals that send nerve impulses, or messages, across gaps between neurons) throughout the neurological system. A crucial neurotransmitter that is derived from 5-HTP is serotonin - an important regulator of mood and healthy sleep patterns. In 1995, 5-HTP became available without a prescription as an over-the-counter nutritional supplement primarily desired by those with insufficient serotonin activity.

5-HTP may have a number of beneficial actions that help to improve symptoms and conditions, including:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders
• Headaches and migraines
• Seasonal affective disorder
• Pain, especially related to fibromyalgia and PMS

The 5-HTP in Elevate is derived from the seed extract of the Griffonia plant or Griffonia simplicifolia. The Griffonia plant is a woody shrub that grows primarily in the tropical rainforests of western and central Africa. The seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia are considered a valuable commodity, due to its high concentration and 5-HTP. For this reason, several African countries are growing the shrub, including the Ivory Coast, Ghana and Togo. The medicinal extracts of G. simplicifolia have been used in traditional medicine to treat a number of disorders, including constipation, sickle cell anemia, and generalized pain. Currently, a number of studies have been performed with the seed extracts due to the high concentration of 5-HTP (precursor of serotonin) - especially with regards to its ability to treat disorders related to low serotonin levels.

5-HTP, Serotonin, and Anxiety and Mood Regulation

Serotonin is also known as 5-HT or 5-hydroxytryptamine, a very close molecular relative to 5-hydroxytryptophan or 5-HTP. In fact, 5-HTP is the immediate precursor to serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a pivotal role in the central nervous system where it helps with a number of important functions, including:

• Sexual functioning
• Bone health
• Blood clotting
• Healthy digestion
• Mood regulation
• Memory

One of the most prominent functions of serotonin in the brain is to help with mood regulation. For example, serotonin plays a role in controlling aggressiveness, anxiety, and depression. Supplementation of 5-HTP May increase your serotonin levels which can have a number of benefits, including:

• Headache and migraine relief
• Improve insomnia symptoms
• Regulate mood disorders

Elevate’s 5-HTP is derived from Griffonia extracts - a supplement which has been shown in research studies to help reduce appetite, treat depression, and promote sleep. 5-HTP is easily absorbed into the body and crosses the blood-brain barrier which allows the supplement to effectively enter the brain without being broken down in the stomach. Therapeutically, supplementing with 5-HTP derived from Griffonia extracts has an added antioxidant benefit protecting your brain from depressive processes while optimizing the function of the brain as shown in recent research. If you are dealing with fatigue related to insomnia or disturbed sleep patterns, mood disorders (such as depression), or chronic anxiety, you may derive great benefit from taking Elevate as it contains mood-improving 5-HTP.

Cautions and Interactions

As with any supplement, consult with your physician before use to make sure it is safe for you and does not interfere with any medications you are currently taking.

Excessive 5-HTP in the body can lead to higher than normal serotonin levels, which may cause people to experience side effects such as anxiety, shivering, drowsiness, muscular issues, digestive disturbance, and heart problems.

If you take anti-depressant medications that increase serotonin levels, do not take 5-HTP. Also, if you take carbidopa for Parkinson’s disease, avoid use unless allowed by your physician. Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should also check with their physician before taking 5-HTP or a supplement that contains 5-HTP.

References

Giurleo, D. J., Juliani, H. R., Amakuse, L. S., Dartey, J. A., Wu, Q., & Simon, J. E. (2020). 5-HTP (5-Hydroxy-L-tryptophan) Content and Antioxidant Capacities of Wild Griffonia simplicifolia Seed Populations from Ghana and Liberia. In African Natural Plant Products, Volume III: Discoveries and Innovations in Chemistry, Bioactivity, and Applications (pp. 239-247). American Chemical Society. Retrieved from ACS: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/bk-2020-1361.ch011

Graeff, F. G., Guimarães, F. S., De Andrade, T. G., & Deakin, J. F. (1996). Role of 5-HT in stress, anxiety, and depression. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 54(1), 129-141.Retrieved from PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8728550/

Jacobsen, J. P., Krystal, A. D., Krishnan, K. R. R., & Caron, M. G. (2016). Adjunctive 5-Hydroxytryptophan slow-release for treatment-resistant depression: clinical and preclinical rationale. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 37(11), 933-944. Retrieved from PubMed Central: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5728156/

Ribas, R. M. G., Oliveira, D. C. L., & Silva, P. C. (2021). The different roles of Griffonia simplicifolia in the treatment of depression: a narrative review. International Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 14(3), 167-171. Retrieved from ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/352465376_The_different_roles_of_Griffonia_simplicifolia_in_the_treatment_of_depression_a_narrative_review