🔅Serotonin is a chemical that helps regulate mood, sleep, digestion, and other body functions.

– It is also known as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), enteramine, thrombocytin, or thrombotonin.

– Serotonin is produced from the amino acid tryptophan, which is found in many foods such as eggs, cheese, turkey, and nuts. Serotonin can also be synthesized in the laboratory or extracted from natural sources.

Receptors for Serotonin

– Serotonin has many receptors in the brain and other tissues that mediate its effects. There are at least seven types of serotonin receptors, named 5-HT1 to 5-HT7, each with different subtypes and functions.

– Some of the main roles of serotonin receptors are:

• 5-HT1: Involved in mood, anxiety, pain, cognition, and appetite regulation.

• 5-HT2: Involved in mood, anxiety, psychosis, cognition, and vascular function.

• 5-HT3: Involved in nausea, vomiting, pain, and cognition.

• 5-HT4: Involved in gastrointestinal motility, cognition, and memory.

• 5-HT5: Involved in circadian rhythms and sleep.

• 5-HT6: Involved in cognition, memory, and mood.

• 5-HT7: Involved in circadian rhythms, sleep, mood, and thermoregulation.

Serotonin Modulators

– Serotonin modulators are drugs that affect the activity of serotonin receptors or the levels of serotonin in the brain.

– Some examples of serotonin modulators are:

1). Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – These drugs block the reabsorption of serotonin by nerve cells, increasing its availability in the brain. They are used to treat depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and other conditions. Examples of SSRIs are: fluoxetine (Prozac), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), and citalopram (Celexa).

2). Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

– These drugs block the reabsorption of both serotonin and norepinephrine by nerve cells, increasing their availability in the brain. They are used to treat depression, anxiety, chronic pain, and other conditions. Examples of SNRIs are: venlafaxine (Effexor), duloxetine (Cymbalta), and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq).

3). Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

– These drugs inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), which breaks down serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain. They are used to treat depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and other conditions. Examples of MAOIs are: phenelzine (Nardil), tranylcypromine (Parnate), and selegiline (Emsam).

4). Serotonin antagonists

– These drugs block the action of serotonin at certain receptors, preventing its effects. They are used to treat nausea, vomiting, migraine headaches, schizophrenia, and other conditions. Examples of serotonin antagonists are: ondansetron (Zofran), cyproheptadine (Periactin), and clozapine (Clozaril).

5). Serotonin agonists

– These drugs mimic the action of serotonin at certain receptors, enhancing its effects. They are used to treat migraine headaches, cluster headaches, obesity, and other conditions. Examples of serotonin agonists are: sumatriptan (Imitrex), lorcaserin (Belviq), and buspirone (Buspar).

Foods to Increase Serotonin In your Body

– Some foods that contain tryptophan or increase serotonin levels are:

🔅 Eggs

– Eggs are rich in protein and tryptophan. They also contain choline, which is involved in the production of acetylcholine, another neurotransmitter that affects mood and memory.

🔅 Cheese

– Cheese is another source of protein and tryptophan. It also contains calcium, which is important for nerve function and bone health.

🔅 Turkey

– Turkey is well-known for its high tryptophan content. It also contains zinc, which is essential for immune system function and wound healing.

🔅 Nuts

– Nuts are high in healthy fats and protein. They also contain magnesium, which is involved in serotonin production and regulation.

🔅 Soy

– Soy products such as tofu, soy milk, and soybeans are rich in protein and tryptophan. They also contain phytoestrogens, which may have beneficial effects on mood and cognition in some people.

🔅 Bananas

– Bananas are a good source of carbohydrates and potassium. They also contain vitamin B6, which is needed for serotonin synthesis.

🔅 Pineapples

– Pineapples contain bromelain, an enzyme that helps digest protein and reduce inflammation. They also contain vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that protects cells from damage.

🔅 Dark chocolate

– Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, antioxidants that improve blood flow to the brain and enhance cognitive function. It also stimulates the release of endorphins, chemicals that make you feel good.

How is serotonin metabolized in the body?

– Serotonin is metabolized in the body mainly by the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO), which is found in the outer membrane of mitochondria in various tissues, such as the brain, liver, and blood platelets.

– MAO breaks down serotonin into 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), which is then excreted in the urine.

– There are two subtypes of MAO, called MAO-A and MAO-B, which have different preferences for serotonin and other monoamines, such as norepinephrine and dopamine.

MAO-A is more selective for serotonin, while MAO-B is more selective for phenylethylamine.

– Both subtypes can be inhibited by certain drugs, such as MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), which are used to treat depression and other disorders by increasing the levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain.

– Serotonin can also be metabolized by other enzymes, such as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which convert serotonin into 5-hydroxyindolealdehyde (5-HIAL) and then into 5-hydroxytryptophol (5-HTOL).

– These metabolites can be detected in blood and urine after alcohol consumption, as alcohol competes with serotonin for the same enzymes.