O Papel do 5-hidroxitriptofano (5-HTP) no período menstrual e sua relação com o rendimento físico de mulheres praticantes de atividade física - uma revisão integrativa

Abstract

The menstrual cycle begins with menarche, which is the first menstruation and ends with menopause. Hormonal changes occur monthly with fluctuations of female hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), regulatory hormones and central nervous system receptors such as serotonin and the GABAergic system. The menstrual cycle has an average duration of 28 days, which can vary from 21 to 35 days and is divided into three phases consisting of the follicular phase, the ovulatory phase and the luteal phase. The follicular period is associated with physical and psychological symptoms such as cramps, headache, muscle fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety and irritability, for example. Therefore, these symptoms sometimes compromise the physical performance of women who practice physical activity, and may cause a reduction in the ability to perform exhaustive exercises, compromising the intensity of training. 5- hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) is an essential amino acid found in low concentrations in the central nervous system. It’s main function to synthetize serotonin, which is a regulatory hormone. Thus, this integrative literature review aimed to analyze the relation between the possible benefits of 5-HTP supplementation on women's physical performance. The work was developed in six phases and to identify the theme and select the hypothesis or research question. From the analysis, eight articles were selected that met the proposed inclusion criteria, this way, data were collected from the adaptation of Ursi's instrument (2005), and were then divided into three groups according to the related themes for better analysis and understanding of the material. Therefore, the results from the analysis demonstrate that the effects of the menstrual period on physical performance can lead to a decrease in the performance of women who practice general physical activities and professional sports. Furthermore, was found that there is a slight increase in the 2-H serotonin receptor in the bloodstream, reinforcing the relation between the menstrual cycle and serotonin metabolism. It was also found that 5-HTP supplementation and its relation with serotonin improved depressive conditions in patients diagnosed with depression that were resistant to oral antidepressants, Parkinson's syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as a slight increase in circulating serotonin receptors in depressive patients. Therefore, the information acquired through the analysis of this material aims to provide support for the development of new studies and analysis of protocols for better management of patients with monthly menstrual symptoms that compromise physical and mental well-being.