Effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan and melatonin supplementation on mood, sleep and cognition in adult patients with depression

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is a precursor to serotonin and has been used as an antidepressant. Its antidepressant potential has been evaluated under different experimental conditions with moderate results. However, it is considered to have poor pharmacokinetics and its use as an alternative treatment for mood disorders has even been questioned. This disadvantage seems to disappear when slow-release 5HTP is used. This study determined whether the combination of slow-release 5-HTP plus the combination with melatonin can reduce symptoms in patients who reported depression. This research consisted of a pre-experimental observational method (qualitative and quantitative). The participants were 20 adults between 25 and 50 years old with a previous diagnosis of depression issued by a mental health professional. Baseline values of depression, sleep quality, and working memory were measured. Subsequently, the participants were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 10) or the experimental group (n = 10). The control group only received information on general aspects of depression, while the experimental group received the combination of 100 mg of 5HTP/10 mg of melatonin for 1 month. The results indicated an improvement in mood, quality of sleep, and both verbal and visual working memory. It is concluded that the tested combination can be an effective alternative to the use of antidepressants.