5-HTP Diet: Does It Do the job?

http://www.5htpmax.org/5-htp-for-weight-loss-an-easy-way-to-fight-obesity/
5-HTP Diet: Does It Do the job?
When you're thinking of actual research on 5-HTP and its influence on weight-loss, you won't find much. In one small study, Italian researchers put a group of obese, hyperphagic (science for "eating too much") adults on a 1,200-calorie diet and provided half of them 300 milligrams of 5-HTP to take 30 minutes before each meal. After 12 weeks, these participants lost about 7.2 pounds compared to 4 pounds for the rest of the group, who, unknowingly, took a placebo.

What's essential to note is that while the weight-loss for the placebo group wasn't statistically considerable, during the second half of the study, all participants were provided particular support to lower their calorie intake. The sugar-pill group missed the calorie mark by virtually 800 calories. To me this seems more like not following directions than the impact of a supplement.

And while it appears the 5-HTP might have assisted with weight-loss, for someone who is extremely overweight to lose 7 pounds in 12 weeks while also eating an extremely calorie-restricted diet isn't that remarkable.

Outside of this study, there is not a lot more-- aside from hypotheses and biochemical mechanisms-- to show that 5-HTP is a hunger suppressant. If you are exercising routinely and following a calorie- and carbohydrate-restricted diet plan, then I would have a hard time seeing an advantage to supplementing with 5-HTP.

If you're still interested in taking 5-HTP, know that it's easily marketed as relatively safe and side-effect cost-free, but anyone taking antidepressants, which can sadly help in weight gain, must prevent taking the supplement, as it can mess with the result and required dose of serotonin in antidepressants.