Supposedly vitamin C helps you maintain your roll and keep it alive. I don't know if any of that is true though. I mean it is good for your body, but I assume that it would only have an effect if you constantly drink it before and after you roll because you would need a fairly large amount for it to have any effect. You could purchase 5-HTP at any vitamin shop. They usually will have a couple of different brands, I just buy the cheapest one. Those little pills can be expensive you know, lol.