What is Serotonin?

Serotonin, a neurotransmitter, originates from the essential amino acid tryptophan. It plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, including brain activity and gastrointestinal processes. This neurotransmitter not only regulates mood but also ensures smooth digestion. It influences blood circulation by aiding platelet coagulation in wound healing.

Healthy serotonin levels significantly enhance life quality, fostering confidence, emotional stability, and sharp memory and learning abilities.

Serotonin Deficiency

Serotonin production partly relies on tryptophan and gut health, with 90% of it originating in the intestines. Essential vitamins and minerals aid its production, while excessive alcohol, caffeine, and sweeteners can inhibit it. Chronic stress and anxiety also impede the brain's ability to produce sufficient serotonin. Its deficiency can impact both physical and mental health and can manifest in various ways, including moodiness, stress, and depression. If you experience symptoms like anxiety, irritation, depression, fear, sleep difficulties, or digestive issues, you might have low serotonin levels. Extreme cases can lead to suicidal behavior or panic disorders.

Causes of Serotonin Deficiency

Serotonin deficiency arises either from inadequate production or inefficient receptor function. Genetic factors may influence serotonin production, as can dietary intake of tryptophan-rich foods. Sunlight exposure also affects serotonin levels.

Serotonin Overabundance

The body naturally produces serotonin, but medication can sometimes elevate levels excessively, leading to Serotonin Syndrome. This condition's effects vary with serotonin concentration. Mild symptoms include shivering, diarrhea, high blood pressure, excessive sweating, headache, confusion, muscle twitching, insomnia, restlessness, and dilated pupils. In severe cases, it can cause muscle rigidity, fever, seizures, irregular heartbeat, and unconsciousness, and can be fatal if untreated.

Causes of Serotonin Overabundance

Serotonin Syndrome typically results from a drug reaction, often due to increased doses of serotonin-containing medicines or starting new ones. These medicines include migraine and depression treatments, certain illicit drugs, and dietary supplements.

Serotonin and the Gut

About 90% of our serotonin is produced in the gut. Emerging research links gut flora imbalances to conditions like depression, underscoring the importance of maintaining gastrointestinal health for mental well-being.

If you're interested in assessing your gut flora, you can explore our range of gut tests, from basic microbiome analyses to more comprehensive evaluations.

Beyond Serotonin: Diverse Causes of Mental Health Issues

While serotonin imbalance is a well-known factor in mental health, many other conditions can contribute to feelings of unease. These include deficiencies in folic acid and B12, hypothyroidism, heavy metal poisoning, and sleep deprivation, among others. Additionally, less recognized sources such as low blood sugar, chronic candida overgrowth, sensitivity to wheat gluten, and imbalances in essential fatty acids, histamine, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters can significantly impact mental well-being.

Before Taking the Serotonin Test

Taking SSRIs (antidepressants), 5-HTP, or tryptophan will influence your test results. These substances can increase serotonin production or cause it to linger in the blood, impacting the test. To assess your natural serotonin levels without these supplements' effects, avoid taking them for 5-7 days before the test. If you wish to know your level while using these supplements, continue taking them as usual.