5-HTP has been used quite successfully in restoring serotonin levels in people suffering from lower levels of this hormone. Examples are people with depression as well as high levels of inflammation in the body (like those suffering from metabolic syndrome). For this reason, most research is focused on such individuals with successful results. One major way in which 5-HTP is used is for treating depression and anxiety disorders. Several human trials have tested the effects of supplementation and they conclude that there are benefits of using this compound for managing symptoms of depression– it can be supplemented by itself in order to achieve higher serotonin levels and an anti-depressive effect or it can be combined with other compounds for an enhanced effect. Another strong effect of taking 5-HTP is in dealing with panic attacks and anxiety. People suffering from panic attacks have lower serotonin levels and supplementation with 5-HTP can protect the organism from induced panic attacks both patients and healthy undiagnosed individuals. Also, a trial in children showed that taking 5-HTP can lead to a significant reduction in experiencing night terrors both during supplementation and after stopping intake of the compound. In addition, combinations of supplements containing 5-HTP can prove effective in dealing with various conditions – increased sleep duration and sleep quality have been achieved with a combination of 5-HTP, GABA, valerian and cocoa polyphenols; and a stack of glutamine, phenylalanine, calcium, magnesium and 5-HTP can help people with alcohol addiction who go through therapy for their condition.