Serotonin: What is it, Function & Levels
Written By: Dr. Aida Suhaimi
Updated On:January 29, 2025
What is Serotonin?
Serotonin is a monoamine neurotransmitter also referred to as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT). As a neurotransmitter, serotonin transports signals between nerve cells in your body and central nervous system (your peripheral nervous system). Your body receives chemical instructions on how to operate.
Serotonin affects learning, memory, and happiness in addition to controlling body temperature, sleep, appetite, and sexual activity in your body. Serotonin deficiency is thought to contribute to mania, anxiety, sadness, and other conditions.
Your stomach contains the majority of the serotonin in your body. The cells lining your gastrointestinal system contain about 90% of your body's serotonin supply. It is dispersed into the bloodstream and taken up by platelets. Your brain only produces 10% of that.
Tryptophan, an important amino acid, is used to make serotonin. It cannot be produced by your body but can be acquired through the meals you consume.
What are the functions of Serotonin?
Serotonin is involved in a wide range of bodily functions, including the following:
Mood
Serotonin is a brain chemical that controls mood. It is frequently referred to as your body's inborn "feel good" chemical. You feel more emotionally secure, happier, calmer, and more emotionally focused when serotonin levels are normal. Depression and low serotonin levels are related. Many drugs prescribed to treat anxiety, sadness, and other mood disorders frequently work to raise the brain's serotonin levels.
Digestion
The majority of the serotonin in your body is found in your gastrointestinal tract, where it plays a role in protecting your gut and controlling bowel movements. Your gut can release more serotonin, which can hasten digestion and help your body get rid of unpleasant meals and harmful items. Moreover, serotonin helps you feel fuller after meals.
Nausea
When serotonin is released into your intestines more quickly than it can be absorbed, nausea is the result. Your brain receives the chemical signal, which you experience as nausea. Many medications used to lessen nausea and vomiting target particular serotonin receptors in the brain.
Sleep
Serotonin and the neurotransmitter dopamine both contribute to the quality of your sleep (how well and how long you sleep). In order to create melatonin, a hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle, your brain also needs serotonin.
Wound Healing
Serotonin is released by platelets in your blood to aid in the healing of wounds. Arterioles, the smallest blood veins, also narrow as a result of the condition, slowing blood flow and promoting the formation of clots. This step in the healing process of a wound is crucial.
Bone Health
Your bone density may be influenced by your serotonin levels. Bone breaks (fractures) and osteoporosis can result from weak bones, which can be caused by high amounts of serotonin in the gut.
Sexual Health
Dopamine and the neurotransmitter serotonin both contribute to your desire for sex.
What contributes to low levels of Serotonin?
Many health disorders, including the following, may be linked to low serotonin levels:
- Depression and several emotional issues
- Anxiety
- issues with sleep
- digestive difficulties
- Suicidal tendencies
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Disordered panic
- Schizophrenia
- Phobias
There are typically multiple reasons for low serotonin levels. Low serotonin levels may result from the following:
- Serotonin production in your body is insufficient.
- Serotonin isn't being utilized properly by your body. This may occur if your body doesn't produce enough serotonin receptors or if the receptors aren't functioning properly.
How to increase levels of Serotonin?
You can increase the levels of serotonin by
-
eating more meals rich in tryptophan,
Tryptophan, an amino acid that is used to make serotonin, can be found in a variety of foods. You can experiment with consuming foods high in tryptophan to try and raise your serotonin levels. Examples of these food types include the following: Salmon, eggs, cheese, turkey, tofu, pineapples, nuts, oats, and seeds.
-
getting more sun,
Some people may develop seasonal affective disorder if they don't get enough sunlight exposure. Try to receive 10 to 15 minutes of sunlight each day to increase vitamin D and serotonin levels. Consider adopting light therapy to receive the necessary daily sunlight if you live in a place where you can't get it naturally.
-
taking particular vitamins,
Serotonin levels are also raised by a number of dietary and herbal supplements. They include probiotics, SAMe, and tryptophan as well as ginseng, nutmeg, Syrian rue, and St. John's wort.
-
and increasing your physical activity and reducing your stress.
Frequent exercise is proven to raise serotonin levels. Improve heart health and mood problems by engaging in thirty minutes of aerobic activity five times per week along with two sessions of strength training.
There are also certain medicines that increase serotonin levels. Antidepressants of various kinds prevent serotonin from being recycled and reabsorption, enabling more to stay in the brain. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, such as paroxetine (Paxil®), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, such as venlafaxine (Effexor®), and tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil®), are medications that function in this manner. Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, such as phenelzine [Nardil®], block the enzyme that breaks down serotonin. They are a different class of antidepressant. Numerous additional drugs, prescribed for many medical ailments, also enhance serotonin. The triptan family of headache medications, opioid painkillers, cough suppressants with dextromethorphan, and anti-nausea medications are a few of these medicines.
What are some problems associated with high levels of Serotonin?
When serotonin levels are overly elevated, a condition known as serotonin syndrome develops. It typically occurs if you take another drug or increase the dosage of a prescription that is known to raise serotonin levels. Shivering, excessive sweating, confusion, restlessness, elevated blood pressure, muscular twitching, and diarrhea are examples of mild symptoms. High temperature, convulsions, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats are among the severe symptoms. If serotonin syndrome is severe, it might be fatal if it is not diagnosed and treated right away.
In conclusion, serotonin is a neurotransmitter that regulates several body processes, including mood, appetite, anxiety, digestion, blood coagulation, and sexual desire. Ask your healthcare professional what you need to know about serotonin if you have a medical condition that affects serotonin or is influenced by it. Don't stop taking your medications, change your dose, or take dietary or herbal supplements without first consulting your doctor. This will help you avoid a swing in your body's serotonin levels and minimize the possibility of drug interactions.
References
Berger, M., Gray, J. A., & Roth, B. L. (2009). The expanded biology of serotonin. Annual review of medicine, 60, 355-366.
Geyer, M. A., & Vollenweider, F. X. (2008). Serotonin research: contributions to understanding psychoses. Trends in pharmacological sciences, 29(9), 445-453.
Jonnakuty, C., & Gragnoli, C. (2008). What do we know about serotonin?. Journal of cellular physiology, 217(2), 301-306.
Mohammad‐Zadeh, L. F., Moses, L., & Gwaltney‐Brant, S. M. (2008). Serotonin: a review. Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics, 31(3), 187-199.
Sternbach, H. (1991). The serotonin syndrome. Am J Psychiatry, 148(6), 705-713.
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