The natural supplements doctors and dieticians are recommending to help lose weight

M

MaryRooney

New member
I am always skeptical when companies claim that you can lose weight using diet pills. So far I have never put my toe in the water so to speak.

However I have been watching Dr. Oz in various videos and he has, along with other diet experts and doctors, been extolling the virtues of an amino acid called 5 HTP. Apparently this increases serotonin in your brain which is linked to hunger. High serotonin levels means reduced hunger and low serotonin levels means increased hunger. Some renowned diet experts in the United States say they prescribe this and/or recommend it to their patients who are over weight as a means of healthily suppressing their appetite. They also state that it has been proven in studies that weight loss has been achieved by taking this supplement and that weight loss is in the region of 1 lb per week. They also state that the weight loss achieved with this supplement is desirable because it is healthy and their patients, once they lose this weight do not put it back on.

Has anyone tried this and is it available on prescription in the UK?

I am really tempted to try it.
 
It is always worth checking what respected sources say about such things.

This is what web md have to say about it:

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-suppl...veIngredientId=794&activeIngredientName=5-HTP

I will copy the text in for easy reference:

5 - HTP
Other Names:
5HTP, 5 HTP, 5 Hydroxy-Tryptophan, 5 Hydroxy-Tryptophane, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-Hydroxytryptophane, 5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophan, 5-Hydroxy L-Tryptophane, 5-Hydroxy Tryptophan, 5-Hydroxy Tryptophane, 5-L-Hydroxytryptophan, L-5 HTP, L-5 hydroxytryptophan, L-5 Hydroxytryptophane, Oxitriptan.


5-HTP OVERVIEW INFORMATION
5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan) is a chemical by-product of the protein building block L-tryptophan. It is also produced commercially from the seeds of an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia).

Don’t use 5-HTP until more is known. 5-HTP might be UNSAFE. Some people who have taken it have come down with eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome (EMS), a serious condition involving extreme muscle tenderness (myalgia) and blood abnormalities (eosinophilia). Some people think the EMS might be caused by an accidental ingredient (contaminant) in some 5-HTP products. But there is not enough scientific evidence to know if EMS is caused by 5-HTP, a contaminant, or some other factor. Until more is known, avoid taking 5-HTP.

5-HTP is used for sleep disorders, depression, anxiety, migraine and tension-type headaches, fibromyalgia, binge eating associated with obesity, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and along with prescription drugs to treat seizure disorder and Parkinson's disease.

How does it work?
5-HTP works in the brain and central nervous system by increasing the production of the chemical serotonin. Serotonin can affect sleep, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation. Since 5-HTP increases the synthesis of serotonin, it is used for several diseases where serotonin is believed to play an important role including depression, insomnia, obesity, and many other conditions.

5-HTP USES & EFFECTIVENESS What is this?
Possibly Effective for:
Depression. There is some evidence that 5-HTP might be about as effective as some prescription drugs for depression.
Fibromyalgia. Taking 5-HTP by mouth appears to improve symptoms of fibromyalgia including pain severity, morning stiffness, and sleeplessness.

Possibly Ineffective for:
Tension headaches. Taking 5-HTP doesn’t seem to reduce pain or the number of headaches suffered by people with chronic tension-type headaches.

Insufficient Evidence for:
Alzheimer's disease. Early studies suggest that 5-HTP doesn’t help symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Anxiety. There is some evidence suggesting that 5-HTP might reduce symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Weight loss and obesity. Preliminary evidence suggests that taking 5-HTP might help reduce appetite, caloric intake, and weight in obese people.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Sleep disorders.
Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of 5-HTP for these uses.

5-HTP SIDE EFFECTS & SAFETY
5-HTP is POSSIBLY UNSAFE for use. There is concern that it can cause a serious side effect called eosinophilia myalgia syndrome. Some people think this side effect is only caused by a contaminant in some 5-HTP products; but there is not enough scientific evidence to know if it is caused by 5-HTP, a contaminant, or some other factor. Until more is known, 5-HTP should be avoided.

Other potential side effects of 5-HTP include heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, sexual problems, and muscle problems.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: 5-HTP is POSSIBLY UNSAFE in pregnancy and breast-feeding. Avoid using it.

Down syndrome: There are reports of 5-HTP causing seizures in some people with Down syndrome. In one group studied, 15% of people with Down syndrome receiving long-term 5-HTP treatment experienced seizures.

5-HTP INTERACTIONS What is this?
Major Interaction Do not take this combination
Medications for depression (Antidepressant drugs) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP increases a brain chemical called serotonin. Some medications for depression also increase serotonin. Taking 5-HTP along with these medications for depression might increase serotonin too much and cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take 5-HTP if you are taking medications for depression.

Some of these medications for depression include fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), amitriptyline (Elavil), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil), and others.

Medications for depression (MAOIs) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP increases a chemical in the brain. This chemical is called serotonin. Some medications used for depression also increase serotonin. Taking 5-HTP with these medications used for depression might cause there to be too much serotonin. This could cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety.

Some of these medications used for depression include phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and others.


Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
Carbidopa (Lodosyn) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP can affect the brain. Carbidopa (Lodosyn) can also affect the brain. Taking 5-HTP along with carbidopa can increase the risk of serious side effects including rapid speech, anxiety, aggressiveness, and others.

Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP can affect a brain chemical called serotonin. Dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) can also affect serotonin. Taking 5-HTP along with dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, others) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take 5-HTP if you are taking dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM, and others).

Meperidine (Demerol) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP increases a chemical in the brain called serotonin. Meperidine (Demerol) can also increase serotonin in the brain. Taking 5-HTP along with meperidine (Demerol) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety.

Pentazocine (Talwin) interacts with 5-HTP
5-HTP increases a brain chemical called serotonin. Pentazocine (Talwin) also increases serotonin. Taking 5-HTP along with pentazocine (Talwin) might increase serotonin too much. This could cause serious side effects including heart problems, shivering, and anxiety. Do not take 5-HTP if you are taking pentazocine (Talwin).

Tramadol (Ultram) interacts with 5-HTP
Tramadol (Ultram) can affect a chemical in the brain called serotonin. 5-HTP can also affect serotonin. Taking 5-HTP along with tramadol (Ultram) might cause too much serotonin in the brain and side effects including confusion, shivering, stiff muscles, and others.

5-HTP DOSING
The appropriate dose of 5-HTP depends on several factors such as the user's age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for 5-HTP. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.




I do not believe in messing around with our serotonin levels as I believe that imbalances involving this neurotransmitter is at the heart of a lot of mood and sleep problems... Panic attacks can be caused by this and I am told that they are very scary. There is little point in dropping a few pounds that you could have dropped anyway with healthy eating if you are miserable.

http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/serotonin

Mental health issues can really take over people's lives - and I have known people suffer greatly with serotonin problems.

All that people need to do to lose weight is eat healthily at the appropriate calorie level and become more active. There is no need to take anything - natural or chemical... Lots of people here lose dramatically more than a pound a week by eating healthily and being active.
 
Altering serotonin levels in the brain using 5HTP is not harmful since serotonin levels are altered daily when carbohydrates are consumed. When you consume carbohydrates such as sweet treats or pasta etc. this increases serotonin (Just as 5HTP) does which results in a feeling of relaxation and calm. That is why we crave carbohydrates, particularly simple sugars when we are stressed because the body knows this will induce a calm feeling and help to relax us. Taking 5 HTP is the same as taking carbs except it has no calorific value therefore is ideal for weight loss. There are many scientific studies published in the world renowned US National Library of Medicine which have proven it is effective for weight loss and is completely safe (see example link below). If increases in serotonin were unsafe for your brain it would be unsafe for us to consume carbohydrates, which is clearly not the case. Also, 5HTP has a half life of 1 hour. This effectively means that if you consume say 50 mg of 5HTP, after 1 hour this would reduce to 25mg and then after another hour this would reduce to 12.5 mg and so on. Therefore it cannot build up in your system as long as you take it in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations. I would also add that I forgot to take it on holiday recently and did not take it for two weeks. I suffered from no withdrawal symptoms. I simply did as most of us do on holiday, ate plenty of lovely food (especially carbs), relaxed and enjoyed myself.

.
 
Chemically messing with anything in the brain is harmful. Creating a chemical response will alter natural responses, creating dependency and inability to perform the same function naturally later on in life. A two week example is meaningless. We're talking about years here. Also, no educational effect is created - you said yourself you were eating the same unhealthy crap that you were eating before. Meaning you will be dependent on a chemical for the rest of your life to supposedly take care of your cravings.

For anything else, refer to Omega's post. The list of proven side effects of 5HTP is as long as an adult's arm. Your link notes as one of the first things that 5HTP can lead to anorexia, which is hardly a desirable thing. Also, it notes that the results 'suggest' that 5HTP 'may' be used to treat obesity. It doesn't say it's effective, it doesn't say it's safe. It says it 'might be' - you might want to look further into learning how to interpret results of studies, and long term validity of studies. This is from a 6 week study. There are no long term studies about the side effects as a weight loss drug, and no studies about what happens once the test subjects stop taking the drug - nothing.

You can easily balance serotonin levels in your brain without chemicals simply by eating sensibly. Looking for an easy way out (and that is what you are apparently doing) and hoping for a miracle cure is not going to work, and I would not suggest to anybody to try and use a potentially unsafe, certainly doubtful drug for weight loss. Suggesting this for weight loss is like suggesting ecstasy for weight loss. It will curb your appetite, give you more energy and make you feel better. It will also ruin your health and make you dependent, leaving you with possibly permanent health issues, and most likely an eating disorder and a warped relationship with food.

Thanks, but no, thanks.
 
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID IS COMPLETELY LAUGHABLE.
First of all 5 HTP is not a chemical. It is derived naturally from the Griffonia plant and is a NATURALLY occurring amino acid. Secondly the reference to anorexia in the clinical data does not mean it causes anorexia. The term anorexia is used because it is a clinical term for loss of appetite for food. It does not cause such a loss of appetite that it would be dangerous otherwise the FDA would have banned it. It has been in the marketplace for a considerable length of time now. If it was so unsafe why would respected doctors and diet experts endorse it on TV? These people are far more qualified in these matters than the people who have posted negative comments on this thread.
5 HTP is not actually a weight loss drug. It is a recognised natural anti-depressant (just as eating carbs temprarily improves mood) and HEALTHY weight loss just happens to be a side effect of taking it.
Ecstasy is a chemical. 5HTP is NOT so why make such a ludicrous comparison and make personal attacks on people for them trying to find ways to help with weight loss.
I WOULD NOT TRUST ANYONE WITH THE PICTURE YOU HAVE BESIDE YOUR POST UUUUUUUGHHHHHH!!!!!! I HOPE THIS ISN'T A PERSONAL PHOTO OF YOU.
 
Deadly nightshade is a naturally occurring plant not a chemical... Clearly - you would imply that it would be good for you. Do you plan on taking a course of it before your next holiday?

When we raise the subject of personal attacks - you appear to be attacking a member of our forum in your posting. I wonder whether San agrees...
 
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JTT said:
EVERYTHING YOU HAVE SAID IS COMPLETELY LAUGHABLE.
First of all 5 HTP is not a chemical. It is derived naturally from the Griffonia plant and is a NATURALLY occurring amino acid. Secondly the reference to anorexia in the clinical data does not mean it causes anorexia. The term anorexia is used because it is a clinical term for loss of appetite for food. It does not cause such a loss of appetite that it would be dangerous otherwise the FDA would have banned it. It has been in the marketplace for a considerable length of time now. If it was so unsafe why would respected doctors and diet experts endorse it on TV? These people are far more qualified in these matters than the people who have posted negative comments on this thread.
5 HTP is not actually a weight loss drug. It is a recognised natural anti-depressant (just as eating carbs temprarily improves mood) and HEALTHY weight loss just happens to be a side effect of taking it.
Ecstasy is a chemical. 5HTP is NOT so why make such a ludicrous comparison and make personal attacks on people for them trying to find ways to help with weight loss.
I WOULD NOT TRUST ANYONE WITH THE PICTURE YOU HAVE BESIDE YOUR POST UUUUUUUGHHHHHH!!!!!! I HOPE THIS ISN'T A PERSONAL PHOTO OF YOU.
Click to expand...

I never claimed that it was a chemical. Please work on your reading comprehension. Also, as said, please work on your ability to read and correctly interpret the result of clinical studies.

The FDA has allowed plenty of substances that have turned out to be harmful, and knowingly so.

If you wish to believe the marketing strategies of so-called experts who will endorse anything for the right price, then that is entirely up to you. It is your health, and you can ruin it whichever way you choose. But please do not present yourself as an expert, or endorse something yourself, if you have clearly no understanding of the matter at hand.

Also, should you make any further personal attacks against me, or any other person on this forum, you will get banned.
 
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San said:
The FDA has allowed plenty of substances that have turned out to be harmful, and knowingly so.
Click to expand...

This is indeed true.

I think that an interesting example of this is the fact that thalidomide is currently approved by the FDA.


A drug which has an unfortunate history that even the least medical of us are aware of. I used to know a girl who was born with no legs over 50 years ago because of this drug... Drugs are not necessarily harmless - simply because they gain FDA approval - or for that matter it is many years since they were first prescribed.
 
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Just gotta throw this in: Amino acids are indeed chemicals.

Noun
A substance having a specific molecular composition, obtained by or used in a chemical process.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
 
By that definition, almost every substance that is processed is a chemical. And if you want to go into that much detail, then yes, you are entirely correct, amino acids would be considered chemicals.

I do, however, think that our poster here meant to say that it isn't 'chemically engineered', and therefore insisted that it is not a chemical. Which is still wrong, but....yeah.
 
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