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5-HTP 50 mg

Swanson Premium Brand
4.7
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(1795 ratings)
5-HTP 50 mg
Product Image
Score82
A lower Griffonia-derived amount is well suited to cautious dose selection. Basic delivery and incomplete standardization and interaction details are its main limitations.
How scoring works
Quantity:60 Capsule(s) • (60 servings)
Goals:
Mood Support
Sleep Support
Stress Relief

Score 82

A lower Griffonia-derived amount is well suited to cautious dose selection. Basic delivery and incomplete standardization and interaction details are its main limitations.
How scoring works
$7.77($0.12 per serving)
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$ 9.19
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$ 9.19
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$ 7.77
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Analysis

A 50 mg dose supports gradual introduction for people who do not want to begin with a full-strength 5-HTP serving. The Griffonia seed source is named and the single-active design makes response and tolerance easier to judge.

The formula may contribute to mood, stress, or sleep support through serotonin production, but it covers only one pathway. No additional ingredient addresses relaxation, circadian timing, or daytime stress resilience.

The extract's standardization percentage is not stated, and the capsule has no release feature aimed at steadier delivery or stomach comfort. Supplied label details also omit a targeted warning about serotonin-modulating medicines.

Who is it for
  • People starting with a lower 5-HTP amount
  • Users who prefer a single-ingredient capsule
Best for
  • Gradual dosing
  • Focused serotonin-pathway support

Pros

  • Flexible 50 mg serving
  • Names the Griffonia seed source
  • Simple formula is easy to evaluate

Cons

  • No extract standardization percentage
  • No specialized release feature
  • Does not cover multiple sleep or stress pathways

Warnings

  • Do not combine 5-HTP with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAO inhibitors, triptans, or other serotonin-raising medicines without medical supervision.
  • Possible effects include nausea, digestive discomfort, drowsiness, and vivid dreams.
  • Take care with other sedating products until individual tolerance is clear.

Nutrient quality

85 Highest impact

The named Griffonia seed extract gives the active a clear botanical source, although no standardization percentage is supplied. The 50 mg 5-HTP serving is a cautious starting amount, while the focused design avoids unrelated actives.

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Ingredient transparency

84 Highest impact

All supplied active ingredients have specific amounts, and no proprietary blend hides key doses. Serving count is available, but full intake directions, excipients, and a serotonin-medication warning are absent from the supplied label details.

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Customer satisfaction

69 High impact

The supplied aggregate rating is strong, though its reliability depends heavily on the available review volume. No review text is provided to identify repeated complaints or firsthand experiences tied to the intended uses.

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Value for money

88 Highest impact

Cost efficiency per equivalent active amount appears good, with the starting-level dose shaping practical value. The single-active formula does not use decorative ingredients to justify its cost.

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Goals

Mood Support
Impact
High effect
B Goal FitC Strength of SupportD- CoverageA+ Formula Quality
5-HTP · 50 mg

5-HTP directly supports serotonin production and may help some people with low mood. Human evidence is promising but limited, and the effect is not as predictable as established mood treatments.

The 50 mg amount is a cautious starting dose with a clearly named Griffonia seed source. Combining 5-HTP with SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, or triptans may increase the risk of excess serotonin.

Study evidence
5-HTP Supportive 9 studies
Sleep Support
Impact
High effect
C Goal FitB- Strength of SupportD CoverageA Formula Quality

Griffonia-derived 5-HTP at 50 mg may support serotonin and downstream melatonin production. The focused formula is more relevant to mood-linked sleep difficulty than direct circadian correction.

The amount is modest compared with many sleep studies, and human sleep evidence is less robust than for melatonin. Combining 5-HTP with SSRIs, SNRIs, MAO inhibitors, or other serotonergic medicines can raise the risk of serotonin toxicity.

Study evidence
5-HTP Supportive 1 study
Stress Relief
Impact
High effect
C Goal FitC Strength of SupportD CoverageA Formula Quality

5-HTP may offer situational support when stress is accompanied by low mood or poor sleep. The 50 mg amount is a conservative starting dose rather than a high-strength serving.

Evidence for direct stress relief is limited, and the extract has no stated standardization. Combining 5-HTP with SSRIs or MAO inhibitors can raise serotonin too much and requires medical guidance.

Study evidence
5-HTP Supportive 18 studies

Ingredients

IngredientAmount per serving
L-5-Hydroxytryptophan (Griffonia simplicifolia Seed Extract)
50 mg
Adults 18–50
Report overview
C+ Active Ingredient Quality & BioavailabilityD Dose, Safety & Label TransparencyA- Value

Griffonia seed extract supplies a standard starting dose of 5-HTP in a conventional capsule. The botanical source is clear, but no standardization percentage or specialized release technology is shown. Because 5-HTP can raise serotonin, combining it with SSRIs or MAO inhibitors may increase serotonin-syndrome risk, yet no specific interaction warning is provided.

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Sources

Published studies used for the product analysis and the top-ranked studies for each ingredient and goal.

  1. The impact of 5-hydroxytryptophan supplementation on sleep quality and gut microbiota composition in older adults: A randomized controlled trial.
    Sutanto CN; Xia X; Heng CW; Tan YS; Lee DPS; Fam J; Kim JE · Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) · 2024
    Randomized trial30 participantsSleep Support for5-HTP
  2. Effect of a serotonin precursor and uptake inhibitor in anxiety disorders; a double-blind comparison of 5-hydroxytryptophan, clomipramine and placebo.
    Kahn RS; Westenberg HG; Verhoeven WM; Gispen-de Wied CC; Kamerbeek WD · International clinical psychopharmacology · 1987
    Randomized trial45 participantsStress Relief for5-HTP
  3. Acute L-5-hydroxytryptophan administration inhibits carbon dioxide-induced panic in panic disorder patients.
    Schruers K; van Diest R; Overbeek T; Griez E · Psychiatry research · 2003
    Randomized trial48 participantsStress Relief for5-HTP
  4. An open-label trial of L-5-hydroxytryptophan in subjects with romantic stress.
    Emanuele E; Bertona M; Minoretti P; Geroldi D · Neuro endocrinology letters · 2011
    Single-arm trial15 participantsStress Relief for5-HTP
  5. Sex-linked differences in cortisol, ACTH and prolactin responses to 5-hydroxy-tryptophan in healthy controls and minor and major depressed patients.
    Maes M; Vandewoude M; Schotte C; Maes L; Martin M; Blockx P · Acta psychiatrica Scandinavica · 1990
    Clinical trial120 participantsStress Relief for5-HTP
  6. Early pharmacological interventions for universal prevention of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
    Bertolini F; Robertson L; Bisson JI; Meader N; Churchill R; Ostuzzi G; Stein DJ; Williams T; Barbui C · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2022
    Systematic review2,023 participants13 studies pooledStress Relief for5-HTP
  7. Pharmacology of rising oral doses of 5-hydroxytryptophan with carbidopa.
    Smarius LJ; Jacobs GE; Hoeberechts-Lefrandt DH; de Kam ML; van der Post JP; de Rijk R; van Pelt J; Schoemaker RC; Zitman FG; van Gerven JM; Gijsman HJ · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2008
    Randomized trialStress Relief for5-HTP
  8. Comparative study of efficacy of l-5-hydroxytryptophan and fluoxetine in patients presenting with first depressive episode.
    Jangid P; Malik P; Singh P; Sharma M; Gulia AK · Asian journal of psychiatry · 2013
    Randomized trial70 participantsMood Support for5-HTP
  9. Effects of 5-hydroxytryptophan on distinct types of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
    Javelle F; Lampit A; Bloch W; Häussermann P; Johnson SL; Zimmer P · Nutrition reviews · 2020
    Meta-analysis13 studies pooledMood Support for5-HTP
  10. The Impact of 5-Hydroxytryptophan Supplementation on Cognitive Function and Mood in Singapore Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Li S; Sutanto CN; Xia X; Kim JE · Nutrients · 2025
    Randomized trial30 participantsMood Support for5-HTP
  11. Effect of 5-Hydroxytryptophan on Fatigue in Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
    Truyens M; Lobatón T; Ferrante M; Bossuyt P; Vermeire S; Pouillon L; Dewint P; Cremer A; Peeters H; Lambrecht G; Louis E; Rahier JF; Dewit O; Muls V; Holvoet T; Vandermeulen L; Peeters A; Gonzales GB; Bos S; Laukens D; De Vos M · Gastroenterology · 2022
    Randomized trial166 participantsMood Support for5-HTP
  12. Tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan for depression.
    Shaw K; Turner J; Del Mar C · The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2002
    Systematic review64 participants2 studies pooledMood Support for5-HTP
  13. 5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and a MAOI (nialamide) in the treatment of depressions. A double-blind controlled study.
    Aliño JJ; Gutierrez JL; Iglesias ML · International pharmacopsychiatry · 1976
    Non-randomized trial30 participantsMood Support for5-HTP
  14. Enhanced tolerability of the 5-hydroxytryptophane challenge test combined with granisetron.
    Jacobs GE; Kamerling IM; de Kam ML; Derijk RH; van Pelt J; Zitman FG; van Gerven JM · Journal of psychopharmacology (Oxford, England) · 2010
    Randomized trialStress Relief for5-HTP