Posted by Caleb462 on May 23, 2003, at 10:13:04
In reply to Re: On Serzone. Add SAM-E and/or 5-HTP?, posted by Tony P on May 23, 2003, at 2:25:53
> My old Merck lists 5-HTP as a serotonin precursor; the question is, where does it "precurse"? Which side of the blood/brainn barrier? Does circulating serotonin affect receptor activity? All pharmacologists/biochemists on deck - bring me up to date here!
>5-HTP is created within the blood-brain barrier, after L-tryptophan has already crossed the BBB. The hydroxy in 5-hydroxytryptophan is what prevents it from crossing into the brain from the outside, same with serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine). Thus serotonin circulating in the bloodstream will have no effect in the central nervous system.
I am not an expert... but I believe I'm correct.
As to whether 5-HTP has any anti-depressant effect, well I suppose it's possible, though I don't understand the mechanism. Larry, you wanna weigh in on this?
poster:Caleb462
thread:227860
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030520/msgs/228560.html