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The scientists that say people should not take 5-HTP have expressed a concern that 5-HTP might be converted to serotonin in the BLOOD before it gets to the brain. Theoretically, this could dramatically increase serotonin in the blood leading (possibly) to right heart fibrosis and heart failure. I can see why there is a sincere debate on this -- anyone who tries to figure this out will find themselves walking through a minefield of "related" research. It boils down to a question of what you extrapolate from this "related" research. I've looked at some of it, but I'm still sitting on the fence on this one. If I find something important, I'll write about it. If you take a large amount of 5-HTP supplements, you might want to get a urine test for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) periodically. If the 5-HTP is being converted to serotonin in the blood, there will be a large increase in 5-HIAA, which is a metabolite of serotonin. If the 5-HTP supplements do not cause your 5-HIAA level to become abnormally high, there *should* not be a peripheral serotonin problem. It is worth noting that there is NO possibility of this problem occurring with the amino acid tryptophan, which the FDA banned after a single contaminated batch was sold. Unlike other such occurrences, they never let tryptophan back on the market, under the absurd false pretense that this essential amino acid ITSELF is dangerous. This assault on the free market left people with obesity, insomnia, and many other problems looking for something -- ANYTHING -- to fill the gap. Thus, it was this ridiculous regulatory action led to the introduction of 5-HTP. Unfortunately, if there are any problems associated with 5-HTP, the mass media will flood the public with anti-supplement, pro-regulation propaganda rather than identifying the real cause of the problem. Predictably, this biased reporting scares the public and reduces the backlash when the FDA attempts to further intrude on our personal, private health decisions. It's an old story: misinformed people trading more and more of their freedom for the illusion of "protection and safety."
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Is 5-HTP safe?
That's a
tough question: some say yes, and others say no -- and I'm talking about sincere,
knowledgeable people in alternative medicine community. In other words, this is NOT a
phony turf war "issue" like the vitamin C controversy, or the chromium
controversy, etc., etc., etc.