What Role Does Serotonin Have In Our Lives?

Serotonin is a chemical that helps nerve cells in the brain communicate with other parts of the body; instructing them how to function. Serotonin serves many different purposes in the human body. It is one of the four "happy" hormones that promote happiness and well-being. But like most things, too much or too little serotonin can have negative effects. Let’s find out more about this.

This Story also Contains

1. What Is Serotonin
2. Serotonin Production
3. Biochemical Mechanisms
4. Effects Of Serotonin
5. Reasons For Low Serotonin Levels
6. How To Increase Serotonin

What Is Serotonin

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates physiological processes such as sleep, regulation of body temperature, learning and memory, pain, social behaviour, sexual activity, motor activity, biological rhythms, and possibly other processes as well.

Its chemical name is 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). It is a monoamine neurotransmitter that also functions as a hormone. In addition, body processes like mood, digestion, nausea, wound healing, bone health, hunger, and happiness are all significantly influenced by serotonin. Serotonin deficiency is thought to contribute to mental and other illnesses.

Serotonin Production

Although serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a majority of it is found outside the central nervous system, and nearly every one of the 15 serotonin receptors is expressed outside in addition to inside the brain. Serotonin is produced by both the intestines and the brain.

Your intestines produce 90 per cent serotonin in your body. Serotonin is found in the cells that line your digestive tract, where it is recognised to have hormonal, autocrine, paracrine, and endocrine effects. Platelets take it up after serotonin is released into the bloodstream.

The brain produces only 10 per cent of our body’s serotonin. In the central nervous system, neurons originating in the raphe nuclei, which are situated in the midline of the brainstem, almost exclusively produce serotonin.

Biochemical Mechanisms

Amino acid tryptophan is the building block for serotonin. This essential amino acid cannot be produced by your body on its own. It is obtained from the foods you eat.

A short metabolic pathway in animals, including humans, produces serotonin from the amino acid L-tryptophan using the coenzyme pyridoxal phosphate and the two enzymes tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) and aromatic amino acid decarboxylase (DDC). The rate-limiting step in the pathway is the TPH-mediated reaction. TPH has been found to exist in two different isoforms: TPH1, which is present in a variety of tissues, and TPH2, which is unique to neurons. Oral serotonin cannot enter the serotonergic pathways of the central nervous system because it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier.

Effects Of Serotonin

The behavioural effects of serotonin are:

• Mood
• Perception
• Memory
• Stress responses
• Anger
• Aggression
• Addiction
• Fear
• Appetite
• Sexuality

Other effects on central nervous system include:

• Motor control
• sleep/circadian rhythm
• Cerebellar regulation
• CNS vascular tone
• Emesis
• Body temperature
• Descending regulation of multiple regulation system
• Respiratory drive

Here’s How Serotonin Affects Our Body

• Mood: Serotonin controls a range of emotions, including happiness and anxiety. Serotonin activity in the brain is thought to be increased by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications which treat mood disorders.
• Nausea: Your body's ability to start vomiting in response to an illness or after consuming certain foods, is aided by serotonin, which is found in your stomach and intestines.
• Circadian rhythm (sleep and waking): Serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters that regulate your ability to stay awake. The chemical helps in the transition between Rapid Eye Movement (REM) and non-REM sleep.
• Blood clotting (healing wound): Serotonin is stored by platelets in the blood. Platelets release serotonin to help stop bleeding and heal wounds when your body needs to repair the damage.
• Sexual drive: Serotonin is involved in controlling the body’s sexual functions. This may be the reason why serotonin-related medications have a higher risk of side effects that can be linked to a reduction in sexual desire.
• Bowel movements: Your intestines produce about 90 per cent of the serotonin in your body, which aids in regulating bowel movements and function.
• Bone Density: According to studies, serotonin levels may affect bone density. High levels of serotonin in the blood have been linked to conditions like osteoporosis and lower bone density. According to research, SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) drugs, typically used as antidepressants, are linked to decline in bone mineral density. Fractures are more likely to occur if you have low bone density.

Reasons For Low Serotonin Levels

Although there is no single cause, one of two things usually happen when serotonin levels are low:

• Serotonin production in your body is insufficient: Serotonin levels are low because your body is not producing enough to keep them at normal levels. Serotonin production could be inadequate in your body for a variety of reasons, including nutrient and vitamin deficiencies. For instance, low vitamin D and B6 levels have both been associated with lower serotonin levels. You can only get tryptophan through diet, an essential amino acid involved in the production of serotonin.

• Serotonin isn't being used by your body properly: The fact that your body is producing serotonin but not using it effectively is another factor that contributes to a serotonin deficiency. This may happen if your body lacks enough serotonin receptors or if the receptors are present but aren't functioning properly, for example, they absorb and break down serotonin too quickly.

You could be more vulnerable to the signs of depression and other mood disorders if your body doesn't produce enough serotonin or isn't using the serotonin you do produce properly.

Effects of Low Serotonin

Low levels of serotonin may be linked with several health conditions, including:

• Anxiety
• Sleep problems
• Depression and other mood problems
• Digestive problems
• Suicidal behaviour
• Panic disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Schizophrenia
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Phobias

How To Increase Serotonin

Serotonin levels can be altered by medications, food, and other natural remedies. Serotonin levels can be raised through:

• Getting more sunlight.
• Eating more tryptophan-containing foods.
• Getting more exercise and lowering your stress level.
• Taking certain supplements.

So what happens when serotonin levels are elevated excessively, a condition known as serotonin syndrome develops. It typically occurs if you take another drug or increase the dose of a medication that is known to raise serotonin levels.

Shivering, profuse sweating, confusion, restlessness, hypertension, muscle twitches, and diarrhoea are examples of mild symptoms. Seizures, a high fever, fainting, and abnormal heartbeats are among the severe symptoms that can occur with elevated serotonin in your system.