Stay specific, if you write an article saying that something increases serotonin PRODUCTION; you should be referring to the only way that serotonin is produced by the body, and that is by the enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase !
It's not valid to say that amino acid supplements increase production of any single neurotransmitter, they are merely "raw materials", they are incapable of increasing serotonin PRODUCTION, yes, you can RAISE the serotonin LEVEL by providing more raw materials, but only if there is enough tryptophan hydroxylase to catalyze the reaction and create serotonin FROM THEM.
This is proven science, so if you want to understand this , then you need to know how it works.
Moving forward.
So there are two major supplements that can increase TRYPTOPHAN HYDROXYLASE; which is guaranteed to increase serotonin production.
Interestingly, they are two supplements very profoundly involved and mentioned repeatedly in a multitude of brain articles related to depression and cognitive function.....
The second one also can raise thyroid hormones, specifically T4, and can also increase neurogenesis ; new brain cell growth.
1.) VITAMIN D ; something more people should be taking, especially during winter months, it's dirt cheap and also increases dopamine production factors as well as tryptophan hydroxylase which will increase serotonin production. Vitamin D should be a core supplement you take and the first one you decide to take no matter if you are skinny, obese, diabetic, hypothyroid, hypogonadal, have dementia or whether you are on the healthy side of the field and work out often and are building mass - as Vitamin D supports sex hormone production and also modulates aromatase enzymes..in addition, it is crucial for thyroid hormone production.
FASEB J. 2014 Jun;28(6):2398-413. doi: 10.1096/fj.13-246546. Epub 2014 Feb 20.
I recommend an organic, and olive oil based Vitamin D pill such as the one below. It is one of the most highly recommended Vitamin D supplements, is backed by AMAZON; who rarely sponsors supplements, and has over 615 positive reviews.Vitamin D hormone regulates serotonin synthesis. Part 1: relevance for autism.
Patrick RP1, Ames BN1.Abstract
Serotonin and vitamin D have been proposed to play a role in autism; however, no causal mechanism has been established. Here, we present evidence that vitamin D hormone (calcitriol) activates the transcription of the serotonin-synthesizing gene tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) in the brain at a vitamin D response element (VDRE) and represses the transcription of TPH1 in tissues outside the blood-brain barrier at a distinct VDRE. The proposed mechanism explains 4 major characteristics associated with autism: the low concentrations of serotonin in the brain and its elevated concentrations in tissues outside the blood-brain barrier; the low concentrations of the vitamin D hormone precursor 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D3]; the high male prevalence of autism; and the presence of maternal antibodies against fetal brain tissue. Two peptide hormones, oxytocin and vasopressin, are also associated with autism and genes encoding the oxytocin-neurophysin I preproprotein, the oxytocin receptor, and the arginine vasopressin receptor contain VDREs for activation. Supplementation with vitamin D and tryptophan is a practical and affordable solution to help prevent autism and possibly ameliorate some symptoms of the disorder. © FASEB.KEYWORDS:
autoimmunity; behavior; brain function; oxytocin; prenatal; vasopressin
- PMID:
- 24558199
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Bacopa monniera leaf extract up-regulates tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) and serotonin transporter (SERT) expression: implications in memory formation.
Abstract
AIM OF THE STUDY:
To examine the effect of Bacopa monniera leaf ethanolic extract (BMEE) on the serotonergic system of postnatal rats with reference to learning and memory. MATERIALS AND METHODS:
From postnatal day (PND)-15-29, rats were treated with BMEE (40 mg/kg BW+0.5% gum acacia) by oral gavage. Behavioural tests (Y-maze, hole-board and passive avoidance) were used to evaluate their learning (PND-32-37) and retention of memory (PND-47-53). Effect of BMEE on neurotransmitter system was analyzed by ELISA and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS:
Oral administration of BMEE improved learning and retention of memory significantly in all behavioural tasks. Following BMEE treatment, the level of serotonin (5-HT) increased while dopamine (DA) decreased significantly. We also found variation in the level of acetylcholine (ACh). However, no significant changes were observed in the level of ACh and glutamate (Glu). The level of 5-HT was significantly elevated up to PND-37 and was then restored to normal level on PND-53. Interestingly, concomitant up-regulation was recorded in the mRNA expression of serotonin synthesizing enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase-2 (TPH2) and serotonin transporter (SERT) on PND-29 and PND-37, which was restored on PND-53. CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that BMEE treatment significantly enhances the learning and retention of memory in postnatal rats possibly through regulating the expression of TPH2, 5-HT metabolism and transport. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
- PMID:
- 21129470
- [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
My recommended BACOPA supplement is the below, I've used it many times and if you need proof I can show you mine and others blood work where 5-HT metabolites and serotonin levels were increased! ;)
