If 5-HTP is metabloized into seratonin wouldnt the body's natural response be to slow seratonin production

Question

Since the body is receiving seratonin from an outside source i would think less of it would be produced naturally, maybe im wrong i would appreciate any comments or insites anyone has on this

Answer 1

some people don't make enough serotonin.

5htp is an amino acid, a precursor to the neurotransmitter serotonin. Your body uses the 5 htp to create serotonin.

Answer 2

Much of 5-HTP taken orally is metabolized into serotonin by the liver, not in nervous tissue, and this peripheral serotonin never makes it through the blood brain barrier.  

Aside from this, though, the body requires tryptophan to make 5-HTP (it's a normal metabolite in 100% of people) and from the 5-HTP, serotonin.  If a person doesn't consume any tryptophan there isn't any resultant serotonin production.  Upping tryptophan (or taking 5-HTP) doesn't necessarily translate into tons more serotonin, either (niacin is made by the body from tryptophan, for example).  

Since 5-HTP is required for the serotonin building process to go down, and your body is going to find some way to make 5-HTP from the tryptophan you're consuming in any number of foods, there isn't any long-term effect to the brain's ability to effectively build serotonin.