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Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression.

K Shaw1, J Turner, C Del Mar

  • 1School of Population Health, University of Queensland, Public Health Building, Herston Rd, Herston, Queensland, Australia, 4006. k.shaw@sph.uq.edu.au

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
|March 1, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and tryptophan show potential for alleviating depression compared to placebo. However, limited high-quality evidence necessitates further research on their efficacy and safety for widespread use.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Psychiatry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and tryptophan are explored as natural alternatives to conventional antidepressants.
  • These substances are commonly used for treating unipolar depression and dysthymia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the efficacy of 5-HTP and tryptophan against placebo in treating adult depressive disorders.
  • To assess the safety profile of 5-HTP and tryptophan for depressive disorder treatment.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases and reference lists.
  • Included studies were randomized controlled trials comparing 5-HTP or tryptophan with placebo in adults with depression.
  • Data extraction and quality assessment were performed independently by three reviewers.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Only two high-quality trials met the inclusion criteria, involving 64 patients.
  • Preliminary evidence suggests 5-HTP and tryptophan are more effective than placebo in alleviating depressive symptoms.
  • The quality of evidence is insufficient to draw definitive conclusions.

Conclusions:

  • Few studies meet rigorous quality standards for reliability.
  • Current evidence indicates potential benefits of 5-HTP and tryptophan for depression, but further research is crucial.
  • The safety, particularly concerning Eosinophilia-Myalgia Syndrome, requires further investigation before widespread recommendation.