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At Healthfully, we strive to deliver objective content that is accurate and up-to-date. Our team periodically reviews articles in order to ensure content quality. The sources cited below consist of evidence from peer-reviewed journals, prominent medical organizations, academic associations, and government data.
- PubMed Health: Menopause
- PubMed Health: Menopause
- “Alternative Medicine Review: Journal of Clinical Therapeutic”; The Potential of 5-hydryoxytryptophan for Hot Flash Reduction: A Hypothesis; J. Curcio et al.; September 2005
- “Alternative Medicine Review: Journal of Clinical Therapeutic”; The Potential of 5-hydryoxytryptophan for Hot Flash Reduction: A Hypothesis; J. Curcio et al.; September 2005
- “Maturitas”; Treatment of Menopausal Hot Fashes with 5-hydroxytryptophan; R. Freedman; December 2009.
- “Maturitas”; Treatment of Menopausal Hot Fashes with 5-hydroxytryptophan; R. Freedman; December 2009.
- “Toxicology Letters”; Safety of 5-hyroxy-L-tryptophan; Y. Das et al.; April 2005.
- “Toxicology Letters”; Safety of 5-hyroxy-L-tryptophan; Y. Das et al.; April 2005.
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5-HTP for Menopause
Menopause is the time when a women stops menstruating and experiences symptoms related to less production of estrogen hormone in the body. The drop in estrogen levels in the body during menopause triggers physical as well as emotional changes such as depression, sleeping problems, night sweats and hot flashes. Supplementation with 5-HTP can ease menopause symptoms. Consult with your doctor about taking 5-HTP, and do not use it to replace medication prescribed by your doctor.
If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.
Identification
5-HTP is not present in significant amounts in the food you eat. It is manufactured from tryptophan, a natural amino acid found in most dietary proteins. In the body, 5-HTP is converted to an important neurotransmitter called serotonin, which helps regulate mood, behavior and sleep.
Research
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A study published in 2005 in the “Alternative Medicine Review” found that the administration of 5-HTP reduced the hot flash symptoms in menopausal women 2. Hot flashes are characterized by a sudden sensation of intense body heat, often with profuse sweating of the head, neck and chest. According to researchers, the mechanism for improvements in symptoms may be due to an increase in serotonin levels in the brain.
Treatment
5-HTP has been used in alternative medicine as an aid to relieve the menopausal symptoms. A study published in 2009 in “Maturitas” found that 5-HTP at a dosage of 150 mg daily had a mild effect on the frequency of menopausal hot flashes. According to researchers, more studies are still needed to determine whether 5-HTP is a worthwhile treatment for this condition.
Safety
Can I Take 5-HTP With Effexor?
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5-HTP, a so-called natural alternative to traditional antidepressants, works without side effects. Extensive analysis of several sources of 5-HTP have shown no toxic contaminants nor the presence of any other significant impurities, according to a study conducted by ISSI Laboratories. A 5-HTP supplement should always be taken under the supervision of a licensed physician.
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References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: 5-HTP
- “Alternative Medicine Review: Journal of Clinical Therapeutic”; The Potential of 5-hydryoxytryptophan for Hot Flash Reduction: A Hypothesis; J. Curcio et al.; September 2005
- “Maturitas”; Treatment of Menopausal Hot Fashes with 5-hydroxytryptophan; R. Freedman; December 2009.
- “Toxicology Letters”; Safety of 5-hyroxy-L-tryptophan; Y. Das et al.; April 2005.
- Wuttke, W. & Seidlová-Wuttke, D. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a non-estrogenic alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Clin Phytosci (2015) 1: 12. doi:10.1186/s40816-015-0013-0
- Black Cohosh. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. NCCIH Publication No. D268. September 2016.
- USP Verified Mark. United States Pharmocopeia website.
- Pruthi S, Thompson SL, Novotny PJ, et al. Pilot evaluation of flaxseed for the management of hot flashes. J Soc Integr Oncol. 2007;5(3):106-12.
- Pruthi S, Qin R, Terstreip SA, et al. A phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of flaxseed for the treatment of hot flashes: North Central Cancer Treatment Group N08C7. Menopause. 2012;19(1):48-53. doi:10.1097/gme.0b013e318223b021
- Ghazanfarpour M, Sadeghi R, Latifnejad roudsari R, et al. Effects of flaxseed and Hypericum perforatum on hot flash, vaginal atrophy and estrogen-dependent cancers in menopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Avicenna J Phytomed. 2016;6(3):273-83.
Writer Bio
Avika Agarwal has been writing professionally since 2007 and has presented her research at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, India. She holds a M.S. in neuroscience from Jiwaji University, India.