What is the difference between L-5-hydroxytrytophan and 5-htp?

Question

What is the difference between L-5-hydroxytrytophan and 5-htp?

Answer 1

Nothing. 5-HTP is 5-Hydroxytryptophan. The HTP is just an abbreviation. Because really, who wants to write out hydroxytryptophan every time?

The L in front indicates the Levo isomer, which is the biologically active form, as opposed to the D (dextro) isomer.