Pure Encapsulations 5-HTP

A hard training block can drain serotonin production faster than diet alone can rebuild it. When that happens, sleep fragments, appetite swings, and your stress response stays elevated longer than it should.

Pure Encapsulations 5-HTP delivers 100mg of 5-hydroxytryptophan per capsule to support the serotonin production your training block is eating into.

Straight to the Source – 5-HTP skips the slower tryptophan-to-serotonin conversion step, arriving one step closer to the serotonin your brain uses to regulate sleep, mood, and appetite.

Minimal, Clean Formula – Two other ingredients total (hypoallergenic plant fiber and a vegetarian capsule), so there's nothing extra standing between you and the 100mg dose on the label.

Built for Sensitive Systems – Free from wheat, dairy, soy, tree nuts, and gluten, so it fits into restrictive diets without forcing you to cross-check every batch.

The Science Behind 5-HTP and Serotonin

5-HTP is the direct precursor your body converts into serotonin, the neurotransmitter behind sleep-wake regulation, mood stability, and appetite control. It's derived from the seeds of Griffonia simplicifolia, an African plant, and it gets to serotonin by skipping the enzyme-dependent conversion step that regular tryptophan has to go through first. That shortcut matters more during heavy training, since the enzyme responsible for converting tryptophan gets throttled by stress and fatigue. Serotonin is also the raw material your body uses to produce melatonin overnight, so supporting daytime serotonin levels can support the sleep hormone production that follows.

How to Use Pure Encapsulations 5-HTP

Dose: Take 1 capsule before a meal, up to 3 times daily. For sleep and appetite support, many athletes start with one capsule in the evening, 30 to 60 minutes before dinner, and adjust from there based on response.

Don't combine with SSRIs, MAOIs, or other antidepressant medications without talking to your doctor first, and skip this one if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.