Stimulatory Effects of L-5-Hydroxytryptophan on Postdexamethasone β-Endorphin Levels in Major Depression

Abstract

Recently it has been shown that acute administration of 200 mg L-5-hydroxytryptophan (L-5-HTP) PO may increase post-dexamethasone (DST) adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels in major, but not minor, depressed subjects. This study aimed to examine the effects of 200 mg L-5-HTP PO on post-DST beta-endorphin levels in the same depressed subjects. It was found that in major, but not minor, depressed subjects, L-5-HTP significantly increased post-DST beta-endorphin concentrations as compared to placebo. The L-5-HTP-induced post-DST beta-endorphin responses were significantly higher in major than in minor depressed subjects. There was a significant and positive relationship between L-5-HTP-induced post-DST beta-endorphin and ACTH or cortisol responses. There was a significant and positive relationship between L-5-HTP-induced post-DST beta-endorphin values and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) score. The results show that the acute administration of L-5-HTP may increase the escape of beta-endorphin secretion from suppression by dexamethasone in major, but not minor, depression.

Endogenous Levels of Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate, but Not Other Sex Hormones, Are Associated with Depressed Mood in Older Women: The Rancho Bernardo Study

“…Two other small trials failed to observe effects of short term DHEAS therapy on mood and cognitive function in older women 26 , 27 . Cortisol levels do not appear to be related to minor depression, 28 but patients with major depression have elevated daytime and post‐dexamethasone cortisol levels, compared with controls, 29–31 and hypercortisolemia normalizes with successful treatment 32 …”

5-Hydroxy-Tryptophan (5HTP) – eine hilfreiche Vorstufe des Serotonins

“…Prof. Pöldinger, eine über viele Jahre führende psychiatrisch-neurologische Kapazität im deutschsprachigen Raum, hat unter 5HTP im Vergleich zu einem SSRI bei diversen serotoninassoziierten Beschwerden wie Depressionen, Ängstlichkeit, Insomnie und Somatik signifikante Verbesserungen bei reduzierten Nebenwirkungsraten belegen können [26]. Einflüsse auf die Essregulation und das Sättigungsgefühl sind belegt [10,31], ebenso auf endokrine Achsen [18] oder gar auf Abb. 2 Stressbelastungen können auch zu einem funktionellen Serotoninmangel führen.…”