The Effects of 5-HTP on Body Composition: An 8-Week Preliminary RCT

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of supplementing with 100 mg daily of 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) on indices of body composition in exercise-trained men and women. Sixty-one subjects volunteered for this investigation. Forty-eight subjects were randomized into a treatment (n = 31, 12 male/19 female; 100 mg 5-HTP daily; CLEANMOOD™) or a placebo (n = 17, six male/11 female; maltodextrin). Body composition was assessed pre- and post-treatment after eight weeks via a multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance device (InBody® 270). Subjects were instructed to not change their training or eating habits; moreover, they were instructed to track their diet ∼2-3 days per week using a mobile app (MyFitnessPal). There were no changes in food intake (i.e. total energy intake or grams of macronutrients) between or within groups. Lean body mass, total body water, and % body fat did not change significantly in either group. Fat mass decreased significantly post versus pre in the 5-HTP group (p = 0.02) but did not change in the placebo group (p = 0.58). Moreover, changes in fat mass were significantly different between the 5-HTP and placebo group (p = 0.048). Based on the limited data from this investigation, daily supplementation with 100 mg of 5-HTP may affect body composition.

Keywords:

• Body composition
• dietary supplement
• exercise
• performance

Disclosure statement

Cassandra Evans, Veronica Mekhail, Jason Curtis, Paulina Czartoryski, Jackie Kaminiski, Anya Ellerbroek, Erik Bustillo, Lia Jiannine and Juan Carlos Santana have no real or perceived conflicts of interest to declare.

Jose Antonio is the CEO of the ISSN, an academic nonprofit that is occasionally sponsored by companies that sell dietary supplements.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded by NURA™ (Irvine California) via a grant to the ISSN. JA is the CEO and co-founder of the ISSN (www.issn.net); NURA CLEANMOOD™ has been a past sponsor of the ISSN.

Notes on contributors

Cassandra Evans

Cassandra Evans received her master’s in Dietetics from Nova Southeastern University. Cassandra is a doctoral student at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions and an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University.

Veronica Mekhail

Veronica Mekhail earned her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science at Texas State University. She is currently a master’s student at Nova Southeastern University, studying Sport Science. She received her CISSN in 2020 and is now interning with the University of Miami’s Sports Nutrition team for Football.

Jason Curtis

Jason Curtis earned his doctorate from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professionals. Currently, he is the Sports Medicine and Fitness Technology Bachelor’s Program Director at Keiser University based in United States

Paulina Czartoryski

Paulina Czartoryski is a fourth-year undergraduate student attending Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in exercise and sport science with a minor in research studies.

Jackie Kaminski

Jackie Kaminski is a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist with a master’s degree in Sports Nutrition and Exercise Physiology from Florida State University. Jackie has worked with athletes in several major sports, however her passion is delivering expert nutritional insights to fighters across all combat disciplines.

Anya Ellerbroek

Anya Ellerbroek graduated with a B.A in Sports Exercise Science and a M.S. in Public Health from Nova Southeastern University. Anya is certified in sports nutrition (CISSN), and certified Neurosports science (CISNS). She has been conducting research with Dr. Jose Antonio PhD, president of the International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN) at Nova since 2013, focusing on high protein diets and its health effects on athletes and bodybuilders, supplements for performance, as well as studying specific genes and their effects on body composition.

Erik Bustillo

Erik Bustillo is a Registered Dietitian from Miami, FL. He attended Florida International University where he received his Bachelor’s in Science in Dietetics & Nutrition and earned the title of Registered Dietitian.

Lia Jiannine

Lia Jiannine earned her doctorate from Florida International University. She is currently an assistant Professor at Nova Southeastern University. My research interests focus on sport supplementation, physical fitness, and sexual functioning.

Juan Carlos Santana

Juan Carlos Santana is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University with Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in Exercise Science. Santana is currently the Founder and Director of IHP, his state-of-the-art training facility in Boca Raton, Florida. Santana has been referred to as “the country’s leading practitioner of functional fitness” and personally trained and developed specific programs for all professional sports, youth fitness, fitness for the mature populations, and accelerated rehabilitation.

Jose Antonio

Jose Antonio earned his doctorate and completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He is the CEO of the International Society of Sports Nutrition and an Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University.