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Date: 07/04/05
Time: 04:54:16
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5-HTP Bilberry Extract Giant Knotweed Extract Lycopene Huperzine Serrate Extract 5-HTP 1. What is 5-HTP? 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an amino acid that is the intermediate step between tryptophan and the important brain chemical serotonin. There is a massive amount of evidence that suggests that low serotonin levels are a common consequence of modern living. The lifestyle and dietary practices of many people living in this stress-filled era results in lowered levels of serotonin within the brain. As a result, many people are overweight, crave sugar and other carbohydrates, experience bouts of depression, get frequent headaches, and have vague muscle aches and pain. All of these maladies are correctable by raising brain serotonin levels. The primary therapeutic applications for 5-HTP are low serotonin states as listed in Table 1. Table 1. Conditions associated with low serotonin levels helped by 5-HTP Depression Obesity Carbohydrate craving Bulimia Insomnia Narcolepsy Sleep apnea Migraine headaches Tension headaches Chronic daily headaches Premenstrual syndrome Fibromyalgia Although 5-HTP may be relatively new to the United States health food industry, it has been available through pharmacies for several years and has been intensely researched for the past three decades. It has been available in several European countries as a medicine since the 1970s. 2. What advantages does 5-HTP have over L-tryptophan? There are many advantages of 5-HTP over L-tryptophan. First of all, because it is one step closer to serotonin, 5-HTP is more effective than L-tryptophan. 5-HTP is also inherently safer. Although L-tryptophan is safe if properly prepared and free of the contaminants linked to severe allergic reaction known as eosinophilia myalgia syndrome (EMS), L-tryptophan is still produced with the help of bacterial fermentation (a situation that lends itself to contamination). In contrast, 5-HTP is isolated from a natural source - a seed from an African plant (Griffonia simplicifolia). Evidence that this natural source of 5-HTP does not cause EMS is provided by researchers who have been using 5-HTP for over 25 years. They state that "EMS has never appeared in the patients of ours who received only uncontaminated L-tryptophan or 5-hydroxtryptophan (5-HTP)"(1). Furthermore, researchers at the NIH studying the effects 5-HTP for various metabolic conditions have also not observed a single case of EMS nor has a case of elevated eosinophils been attributed to 5-HTP in these studies. 3. What effect does 5-HTP have on weight loss? As far back as 1975, researchers demonstrated that administering 5-HTP to rats that were bred to overeat and be obese resulted in significant reduction in food intake (6). It turns out that these rats have decreased activity of the enzyme that converts tryptophan to 5-HTP and subsequently to serotonin. In other words, these rats are fat as a result of a genetically determined low level of activity of the enzyme that starts the manufacture of serotonin from tryptophan. As a result, these rats never get the message to stop eating until they have consumed far greater amounts of food than normal rats. There is much circumstantial evidence that many humans are genetically predisposed to obesity. This predisposition may involve the same mechanism as that observed in rats genetically predisposed to obesity. In other words, many people may be predisposed to being overweight because they have a decreased conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP and, as a result, decreased serotonin levels. By providing preformed 5-HTP, this genetic defect is bypassed and more serotonin is manufactured. 5-HTP literally turns off hunger (7). The early animal studies that used 5-HTP as a weight loss aid have been followed by a series of three human clinical studies of overweight women, conducted at the University of Rome (8-10). The first study showed that 5-HTP was able to reduce caloric intake and promote weight loss despite the fact that the women made no conscious effort to lose weight (8). The average amount of weight loss during the five-week period of 5-HTP supplementation was a little more than 3 pounds. The second study sought to determine whether 5-HTP helped overweight individuals adhere to dietary recommendations (9). The twelve-week study was divided into two six-week periods. For the first six weeks, there were no dietary recommendations; for the second six weeks the women were placed on a 1,200-calorie diet. As shown in Table 1, the women who took the placebo lost 2.28 pounds, while the women who took the 5-HTP lost 10.34 pounds. As in the previous study, 5-HTP appeared to promote weight loss by promoting satiety-the feeling of satisfaction-leading to fewer calories being consumed at meals. Every woman who took the 5-HTP reported early satiety. In the third study involving 5-HTP, for the first six weeks there were no dietary restrictions, and for the second six weeks the women were placed on a 1,200-calorie-per-day diet (10). The results from this study were even more impressive than the previous studies for several reasons. The group that received the 5-HTP had lost an average of 4.39 pounds at six weeks and an average of 11.63 pounds at 12 weeks. In comparison, the placebo group had lost an average of only 0.62 pounds at six weeks and 1.87 pounds at twelve weeks. The lack of weight loss during the second six-week period in the placebo group obviously reflects the fact that the women had difficulty adhering to the diet. Early satiety was reported by 100 percent of the subjects during the first six-week period. During the second six-week period, even with severe caloric restriction, ninety percent of the women taking 5-HTP reported early satiety. Many of the women who received the 5-HTP (300 mg three times per day) reported mild nausea during the first six weeks of therapy. However, the symptom was never severe enough for any of the women to drop out of the study. No other side effects were reported. Wasn't the drug Redux, which raises serotonin levels, taken off the market because it caused damage to the heart valves? Is there a risk with 5-HTP doing the same? In September 1997, the popular weight loss drug Redux and its chemical cousin fenfluramine, part of the "fen-phen" combination, were taken off the market based on a study showing that these drugs may have caused permanent damage to heart valves in as many as one-third of the people who took them. There is no evidence that 5-HTP produces these effects. Unlike Redux, 5-HTP does not raise blood serotonin levels to a significant degree nor does it block reuptake of serotonin. The point here is that 5-HTP does not disrupt the normal process of serotonin release, reabsorbtion, and elimination from the body. 5-HTP is not a synthetic drug; it is an amino acid produced naturally by your body's metabolism. 4. How does 5-HTP compare with melatonin in the treatment of insomnia? 5-HTP may prove to be better than melatonin. Several clinical studies have shown 5-HTP to produce good results in promoting and maintaining sleep in normal subjects as well as those experiencing insomnia (11-14). One of the key benefits with 5-HTP in the treatment of insomnia is its ability to increase sleep quality. 5. What is fibromyalgia and how does 5-HTP help? Fibromyalgia is a recently recognized disorder regarded as a common cause of chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Fibromyalgia is a relatively common condition estimated to affect about 4% of the general population. Diagnosis requires fulfillment of all three major criteria and four or more minor criteria. Major criteria Generalized aches or stiffness of at least three anatomic sites for at least three months. Six or more typical, reproducible tender points. Exclusion of other disorders which can cause similar symptoms. Minor criteria ， Generalized fatigue ， Chronic headache ， Sleep disturbance ， Neurological and psychological complaints ， Joint swelling ， Numbing or tingling sensations ， Irritable bowel syndrome ， Variation of symptoms in relation to activity, stress, and weather changes The history of the development of 5-HTP as an effective treatment for fibromyalgia began with studies on the drug fenclonine (21). This drug blocks the enzyme which converts tryptophan to 5-HTP and as a result blocks serotonin production. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was thought that increased serotonin formation may promote migraine headaches (the opposite of what was later proved, i.e., increasing serotonin levels reduce migraine headache occurrence). The researchers discovered that providing headache sufferers with fenclonine resulted in very severe muscle pain. This effect was exactly opposite of what was expected, but led to some important advances in the understanding of fibromyalgia--a way to induce its severe symptoms of (as well as symptoms nearly identical to EMS, the condition caused by contaminated L-tryptophan). The researchers also discovered that migraine sufferers reacted to the drug much more than non-headache sufferers. In fact, in most normal subjects fenclonine produced no fibromyalgia. These occurrences highlight just how sensitive migraine sufferers are to low serotonin levels. Migraine headaches and fibromyalgia share a common feature: both are low serotonin syndromes. After over 25 years of research, one of the lead researchers has stated that "In our experience, as well as in that of other pain specialists, 5-HTP can largely improve the painful picture of primary fibromyalgia" (22). Double-blind studies support this contention (23, 24). 6. Can 5-HTP be taken with St. John's wort extract? Yes. In fact, the two seem to work very well together. St. John's wort extract has been shown in over 25 double-blind studies to be as or more effective than antidepressant drugs in the treatment of mild to moderate depression. In more severe cases, I recommend using 5-HTP along with St. John's wort. Be sure to use the St. John's wort extract standardized for 0.3% hypericin. The dosage for this extract is typically 300 mg three times per day. When using it in combination with 5-HTP I recommend 50-100 mg of 5-HTP and 150-300 mg of St. John's wort extract three times daily. 7. Has 5-HTP been studied in the treatment of depression? Yes. In fact, there is excellent documentation that 5-HTP is an effective antidepressant agent. 5-HTP often produces very good results in patients who are unresponsive to standard antidepressant drugs. One of the more impressive studies involved 99 patients described as suffering from "therapy resistant" depression (3). These patients had not responded to any previous therapy including all available antidepressant drugs as well as electro convulsive therapy. These therapy resistant patients received 5-HTP at dosages averaging 200 mg daily but ranging from 50 to 600 mg per day. Complete recovery was seen in 43 of the 99 patients and significant improvement was noted in 8 more. Such significant improvement in patients suffering from long-standing, unresponsive depression is quite impressive prompting the author of another study to state "5-HTP merits a place in the front of the ranks of the antidepressants instead of being used as a last resort. I have never in 20 years used an agent which: (1 was effective so quickly; (2 restored the patients so completely to the persons they had been and their partners had known; [and] (3 was so entirely without side effects" (4). 8. Are there any studies where 5-HTP was compared directly to antidepressant drugs? Yes, there are several. 5-HTP is equal to or better than standard antidepressant drugs and the side effects are much less severe. The study with the most significance was one that compared to fluvoxamine, a "selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor" like Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft. In the study, subjects received either 5-HTP (100 mg) or fluvoxamine (50 mg) three times daily for 6 weeks (5). The percentage decrease in overall depression scores was slightly better in the 5-HTP group (60.7% vs. 56.1%). More patients responded to 5-HTP than fluvoxamine and 5-HTP was quicker acting than the fluvoxamine. The real advantage of 5-HTP in this study was the low rate of side effect. Here is how the physicians described the differences among the two groups: "Whereas the two treatment groups did not differ significantly in the number of patients sustaining adverse events, the interaction between the degree of severity and the type of medication was highly significant: fluvoxamine predominantly produced moderate to severe, oxitriptan [5-HTP] primarily mild forms of adverse effects." The most common side effects with 5-HTP were nausea, heartburn, and gastrointestinal problems (flatulence, feelings of fullness, and rumbling sensations). These side effects were rated as being very mild to mild. In contrast, most of the side effects experienced in the fluvoxamine group were of moderate to severe intensity. 9. How does 5-HTP benefit headache sufferers? Because chronic headache sufferers have low levels of serotonin in their tissues, some researchers refer to migraine and chronic headaches as a "low serotonin syndrome" (15). There have been several clinical studies with 5-HTP in headaches, both migraine and tension headaches, that have showed excellent results (15-20). In particular, the use of 5-HTP in the prevention of migraine headache offers considerable advantages over drug therapy. Although a number of drugs have been shown to be useful in the prevention of migraine headaches, all of them carry significant side effects. In contrast, 5-HTP is very safe. 10. What is the best way to take 5-HTP? For depression, weight loss, headaches, and fibromyalgia the dosage should be started at 50 mg three times per day. If the response is inadequate after two weeks, increase the dosage to 100 mg three times per day. This recommendation will greatly reduce the mild symptoms of nausea often experienced during the first few weeks of 5-HTP therapy. Using enteric-coated capsules or tablets (pills prepared in a manner so that they will not dissolve in the stomach) significantly reduces the likelihood of nausea. Because 5-HTP does not rely on the same transport vehicle as L-tryptophan, it can also be taken with food. But, if you are taking 5-HTP for weight loss I recommend taking it 20 minutes before meals. For insomnia, I recommend 100 to 300 mg thirty to forty-five minutes before retiring. Start with the lower dose for at least three days before increasing dosage. UP Bilberry Extract Common Name: Bilberry, Huckleberry, Whortleberry Latin Name: Vaccinium myrtillus L. Origin Europe (Wild) Part of The Plant Used Fresh fruit Active Substances: Anthocyanosides , flavonoids Standard 25% anthocyanosides calculated as anthocyanidins Description: Bilberry is a perennial shrub native to Northern Europe, Northern America, and Canada. The bilberry plant produces a fruit similar to the American blueberry, but containing higher quantities of constituents useful for visual acuity and night blindness. Pharmacology: Bilberry is rich in anthocyanosides. Over 15 different anthocyanosides have been found in Bilberry. Anthocyanosides help to maintain the integrity of capillaries and to stabilize collagen. Anthocyanosides are also potent antioxidants. Numerous clinical studies have shown that bilberry is effective in the treatment of circulation disorders, varicose veins, and other venous and arterial disorders. The anthocyanosides protect veins and arteries by stabilizing the phospholipids of the endothelial cells, and by increasing the synthesis of collagen and mucopolysaccharides which give the arterial walls their structural integrity. Antho-cyanosides also prevent the aggregation and adherence of platelets to endothelial surfaces. Studies have also shown that bilberry can act as a coadjutant in heme-ralopy and diabetic retinopathy and can stimulate rhodopsin production. Processing: Extratction with a hydromethanolic solution. Historical Uses: 1. Ophthalmology A. myopia: B. Retinal disturbances C. Eye strain/visual acuity D. Dark adaptation E. Day and night blindness F. Pigmentary retinitis G. Diabetic-included cataracts. 2. Vascular Disorders: A. Blood purpuras B. Varicose veins C. Varices D. Anti-coagulating problems E. Capillary fragility and hyper-permeability F. Phlebitis G. Hypertension H. Advanced diabetic vascular complications I. Arteriosclerosis J. Hemorrhages K. Bleeding gums L. Kidney hematuria M. CNS vascular disorders. UP Giant Knotweed Extract Resveratrol Traditional Andmodernuses: Huzhang ("tiger cane") or giant knotweed is an east Asian species (Polygonum cuspidatum), belonging to the Polygonaceae family. Documented uses in traditional Chinese medicine date to the first century BC, and contemporary medical uses supported by clinical results include acute microbial infections or viral hepatitis, chemo- or radiation-induced leukocytopenia, atherosclerosis, and hyperlipidemia. Pharmacology: In animal experiments, huzhang has exhibited antitussive, antihistaminic, hypotensive, vasodilating, cytotoxic, and antioxidant properties, among others. Huzhang is also a concentrated source of resveratrol (3,5,4‖-trihydroxy stilbene), an antioxidant phenol produced in response to fungi. Resveratrol has also shown antimutagenic activity in bioassays conducted on bacteria in vitro (umu and Ames tests). And, in a recent investigation conducted in vivo and in vitro, resveratrol displayed chemopreventive effects at three critical stages of carcinogenesis. Specifically, resveratrol was found to 1) induce phase II drug metabolizing enzymes (antiinitiation); 2) mediate anti-inflammatory effects and inhibit cyclooxygenase and hydro-peroxidase (antipromotion); and 3) induce human promyelocytic leukemia cell diferentiation (antiprogression). Resveratrol was also found to inhibit the development of preneoplastic lesions in vitro and tumorigenesis in vivo. Very recently, it was reported that Huzhang extract is one of the best active-oxygen scavengers for the prevention of skin aging induced by UV-irradiation and free radical. Experiments conducted in vivo indicate that resveratrol is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation. Recent work in dogs and humans indicate that other concentrated sources of resveratrol (i.e., red wine and grape juice) eliminate cyclic blood-flow reductions caused by platelet-mediated thrombosis. Active Compounds: Huzhang is characterized by anthraquinones and their glycosides, napthoquinone, 3,5,4‖-trihydroxy stilbene (i.e., resveratrol), piceid, fallacinol, citreorosein, questin, questinol, protocatechuic acid, (+) catechin, 2,5-dimethyl-7- hydroxychromone, 7-hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-methylcoumarin, flavonols, polysaccharides, and condensed tannins. Regulatory Status: Under U.S. law, huzhang extract is regulated as a dietary supplement. As of this writing, no European governments had issued monographs or regulations for nutraceutical uses of huzhang. NOTE: The statements in this publication have not been evaluated by the FDA. Selected Reference: Encyclopedia of Chinese Drugs. Jiangsu Institute of Modern Medicine, Shanghai Scientific and Technical Publications, 1977. [Chinese] Encyclopedia of Common Natural Ingredients Used in Foods, Drugs, and Cosmetics, by Albert Leung, Ph.D. and Steven Foster. Hitoshi Masaki et al. Biol Pharm Bull. 18, 162-166, 1995. Huang WZ. Fujian Zhongyiyao, 18(4), 27, 1987. [Chinese] Kimura Y et al. Planta Med, 48, 164, 1996. Meishang Jang et al. Cancer chemopreventive activity of resveratrol, a natural product derived from grapes. Science, vol. 275, 218-220, 1997. Orsini, F. et al. Isolation, synthesis, and antiplatelet aggregation activity of resveratrol 3-O-b-D glucopyranoside and related compounds. J Nat Prod. 60:1082-87, 1997. Pharmacognosy, Phytochemistry, Medicinal Plants, by Prof. Jean Bruneton. Lavoisier Tec & Doc/Intercept Ltd., 1995. Records of Chinese Materia Medica Vol. 1. Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1982. [Chinese] UP Lycopene Natural Sources: Watermelon, tomatoes, tomato products, and apricots. Therapeutic Uses: - Anti-aging - Antioxidant - Cancer Prevention - Cellular Regeneration - Cervical Disorders - Detoxifying - Eyesight Disorders - Immune System Disorders - LDL Cholesterol Oxidation - Lung Disease - Pancreatic Disorders - Prostate Disorders - Respiratory Diseases - Vascular Disorders - Vitamin A Deficiency (RDA=4.6-15.6mg/day) Overview: Lycopene is a red carotenoid found in vegetables and fruit, particularly concentrated in tomatoes and watermelon. Lycopene acts as an antioxidant, protecting cells against free radicals. Numerous studies have documented the benefits of lycopene for prostate health, particularly for preventing prostate cancer. Dietary consumption of lycopene (mostly from tomato products) has been associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. Evidence relating other carotenoids, tocopherols, and retinol to prostate cancer risk has been found, although the effects of lycopene seem to be stronger. Lycopene is a more potent inhibitor of human cancer cell proliferation than either alpha- or beta-carotene. Dietary differences are believed to explain why the incidence of prostate cancer is 120 times greater in the United States than in China, where fatty foods are not part of the general diet. A nine-year study published in 1995 suggests that tomato-based products protect against prostate cancer. Significant results have also been found in a clinical trial to assess the effects of lycopene supplementation in patients with prostate cancer. Twenty-six men with newly diagnosed, clinically localized prostate cancer were randomly assigned to receive 15 mg of lycopene (15 patients) twice daily or no supplementation (11 patients) for 3 weeks before radical prostatectomy. Eleven (73%) subjects in the intervention group and two (18%) subjects in the control group had no involvement of extra-prostatic tissues with cancer (significant). Diffuse involvement of the prostate by 'intraepithelial neoplasia' was present in 10 (67%) subjects in the intervention group and in 11 (100%) subjects in the control group (also significant). Plasma prostate-specific antigen levels decreased by 18% in the intervention group, whereas they increased by 14% in the control group. The results suggest that lycopene supplementation may decrease the growth of prostate cancer. Tomatoes are also linked to significantly lower rates of pancreatic and cervical cancer. UP Huperzine Serrate Extract What Is It? For centuries in the Far East, traditional healers have used a rare moss (Huperzia serrata) found in the colder regions of China to remedy fever and inflammation. Only recently did scientists uncover a remarkable quality in a substance they isolated in the moss. Called huperzine A, the compound appears to have the power to sharpen the mind and potentially ward off the devastating effects of the memory-robbing disease known as Alzheimer's, particularly in its earliest stages. Huperzine A has also been proposed for countering normal bouts of forgetfulness in the general population. Mental improvements associated with huperzine A appear to stem from the compound's ability to inhibit the breakdown of acetylcholine, a brain chemical essential to memory. The only Alzheimer's drugs currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration work in much the same way. In fact, laboratory findings indicate that huperzine A may be more precise than conventional medications in the manner in which it protects acetylcholine, raising hopes that it could counter memory loss with relatively few side effects. General Interaction Huperzine A is believed to have a synergistic effect when combined with cholinesterase inhibitors, drugs that act in a similar fashion to combat Alzheimer's-related memory loss. So while the combination of these two agents could potentially boost the benefits of both, it could also lead to as yet unidentified negative reactions. Consult a doctor for guidance Cautions ， Although apparently safe over the short term, there is no information on whether huperzine A will lead to long-term complications, especially when used in conjunction with other medications. Consult a doctor to determine your optimal dose of huperizine A. ， Make sure to buy only 99% purified compounds of huperzine A; crude extracts of the moss are potentially toxic and could have sedative effects, which certainly won't sharpen memory. ， Given its mode of action, huperzine A may affect heart rate. For this reason, don't take huperzine A if you have hypertension (high blood pressure) or are pregnant. People with asthma or other respiratory diseases should also use huperzine A with care. ， Side effects of huperzine A may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, and muscle cramps. ， Consult a doctor if you are experiencing unusual confusion or memory loss; it's important to have such symptoms professionally examined and treated if necessary.