Neurotransmitters
Uses - this page needs cleaning
Chart form here
Brain ChemicalRole in Neurotransmission and Stress ResponseNutritional Support
Glutamate, the excitatory chemical
Heightens overall brain activity
NAC, green tea, vitamin D3, magnesium, omega-3s
GABA, the inhibitory chemical
Slows overall brain activity
GABA, L-theanine, vitamin B6, zinc, inositol, herbal therapies
Norepinephrine, the arousal chemical
Raises level of alertness
Tyrosine, L-theanine, NAC, omega-3s, inositol
Dopamine, the reward chemical
Focuses attention and enhances pleasure and reward
Tyrosine, L-theanine, B vitamins, omega-3s, St. John’s wort, ginkgo
Serotonin, the soothing chemical
Calms, regulates sleep and appetite, protects against stress
Tryptophan/5-HTP, DHEA, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3s, St. John’s wort
CRH/cortisol, the stress hormone
Prolonged elevation leads to fat storage, insulin resistance, degenerative brain disorders, memory loss, inflammation
DHEA, B vitamins, antioxidants, herbal adaptogens
Brain ChemicalRole in Neurotransmission and Stress ResponseNutritional Support
Glutamate, the excitatory chemical
Heightens overall brain activity
NAC, green tea, vitamin D3, magnesium, omega-3s
GABA, the inhibitory chemical
Slows overall brain activity
GABA, L-theanine, vitamin B6, zinc, inositol, herbal therapies
Norepinephrine, the arousal chemical
Raises level of alertness
Tyrosine, L-theanine, NAC, omega-3s, inositol
Dopamine, the reward chemical
Focuses attention and enhances pleasure and reward
Tyrosine, L-theanine, B vitamins, omega-3s, St. John’s wort, ginkgo
Serotonin, the soothing chemical
Calms, regulates sleep and appetite, protects against stress
Tryptophan/5-HTP, DHEA, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3s, St. John’s wort
CRH/cortisol, the stress hormone
Prolonged elevation leads to fat storage, insulin resistance, degenerative brain disorders, memory loss, inflammation
DHEA, B vitamins, antioxidants, herbal adaptogens
Histamine
Histamine is a neurotransmitter itself. Whole blood histamine as a marker for methylation. Persons with high histamine ( > 70) are believed to be undermethylated; persons with low histamine (< 40) are considered overmethylated. We believe that methylation imbalances have a major impact on synthesis of serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The reason is that methyl status isn't easy to decisively determine...... and is very important clinically.
In your hypothalamus, histamine stimulates the release of the important neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
In your hypothalamus, histamine stimulates the release of the important neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
Good overview of neuros here.
We have two kinds of neurotransmitters, the excitatory (such as norepinephrine or glutamate), which stimulate, and the inhibitory (such as serotonin or GABA), which calm the brain to balance mood.
Our biochemistry dictates that each paired set of neurotransmitters functions in a dynamic balance between excitation and inhibition. You can picture it as a kind of seesaw, with imbalances resulting when one side or the other becomes overactive.
When an excitatory neurotransmitter becomes overactive, its counterbalancing
inhibitory partner becomes depleted. As a result, stimulation will increase, while
relaxation decreases. Conversely, if the inhibitory partner is overly dominant,
drowsiness, lethargy, or even depression may result. So the key is maintaining
balance. Yasko
Our biochemistry dictates that each paired set of neurotransmitters functions in a dynamic balance between excitation and inhibition. You can picture it as a kind of seesaw, with imbalances resulting when one side or the other becomes overactive.
When an excitatory neurotransmitter becomes overactive, its counterbalancing
inhibitory partner becomes depleted. As a result, stimulation will increase, while
relaxation decreases. Conversely, if the inhibitory partner is overly dominant,
drowsiness, lethargy, or even depression may result. So the key is maintaining
balance. Yasko
Related
MAO-A gene does the serotonin breakdown
Watch for...
pincolates interfere with neurotransmitters???
Serotonin level from food effects a person from immediately upon eating and lasting to two hours. This isn't like using the serotonin re-uptake drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, or the tricyclics medications which influence set levels of tryptophan over a day or so. Food potentially provides 'new' serotonin into the body whereas the SSRIs reuse whatever amount is there.
"hyperness" "anxiety" or "stressed out" conditions that can occur on a high-protein, low-carb diet through decreased serotonin levels
trytophan competes with 5 other amino acids for active transport across the blood brain barrier. So increasing protein overall actually DECREASES trytophan levels because the tryptophan is outcompeted by the other amino acids.
if you have an MAO A mutation and/or COMT mutations, you do not break down dopamine (MAO A) or serotonin (COMT) as fast as those without mutations. As a slow metabolizer, you end up with excess dopamine (if MAO A) and if you take an SSRI for anxiety (with COMT), it will "activate" you because you're adding more serotonin into the system and you already have more than you can break down. Instead, you need to support these mutations and help re-balance the system. Wouldn't be surprised to find Pandas kids have MAO A and/or COMT mutations. COMT is also influenced by your VDR Taq gene status - which makes dopamine from Vitamin D.
Serotonin level from food effects a person from immediately upon eating and lasting to two hours. This isn't like using the serotonin re-uptake drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, or the tricyclics medications which influence set levels of tryptophan over a day or so. Food potentially provides 'new' serotonin into the body whereas the SSRIs reuse whatever amount is there.
"hyperness" "anxiety" or "stressed out" conditions that can occur on a high-protein, low-carb diet through decreased serotonin levels
trytophan competes with 5 other amino acids for active transport across the blood brain barrier. So increasing protein overall actually DECREASES trytophan levels because the tryptophan is outcompeted by the other amino acids.
if you have an MAO A mutation and/or COMT mutations, you do not break down dopamine (MAO A) or serotonin (COMT) as fast as those without mutations. As a slow metabolizer, you end up with excess dopamine (if MAO A) and if you take an SSRI for anxiety (with COMT), it will "activate" you because you're adding more serotonin into the system and you already have more than you can break down. Instead, you need to support these mutations and help re-balance the system. Wouldn't be surprised to find Pandas kids have MAO A and/or COMT mutations. COMT is also influenced by your VDR Taq gene status - which makes dopamine from Vitamin D.
Sources
Food
To increase trytophan levels which increases serotonin and thereby decreases hyperness/stimming, you need to give carbohydrates and not animal meat (or not as much animal meat), to minimize competition by the other amino acids. Eating a food in complex starch along with the tryptophan promoting food helps tryptophan get to the brain. Good combinations are cheese on grain crackers, milk and cookies, or a turkey sandwich. Here are some guidelines.
Supplements
best absorbed
worst
doses
5-HTP allows more serotonin to be made and available to the body for use (if your body is actually not producing enough). The SSRIs force that serotonin that you do have present to be used longer. There is no additional 'new' serotonin produced. So even though both have the final goal of getting more serotonin used in the body, it is by different mechanisms. Perhaps some people have a faulty glitch in one part of the total pathway and others have a glitch somewhere else in the pathway. In autism, the research seems to indicate that some people run serotonin low and some run serotonin high. If you are too high already, an SSRI or 5-htp wouldn't be helpful (you wouldn't need more).
worst
doses
5-HTP allows more serotonin to be made and available to the body for use (if your body is actually not producing enough). The SSRIs force that serotonin that you do have present to be used longer. There is no additional 'new' serotonin produced. So even though both have the final goal of getting more serotonin used in the body, it is by different mechanisms. Perhaps some people have a faulty glitch in one part of the total pathway and others have a glitch somewhere else in the pathway. In autism, the research seems to indicate that some people run serotonin low and some run serotonin high. If you are too high already, an SSRI or 5-htp wouldn't be helpful (you wouldn't need more).