The biochemical serotonin is produced in the brain from the amino acid L-tryptophan and distributed to the central nervous system, blood platelets and gastrointestinal system of the body. Low serotonin levels may be the result of stress, a dietary deficiency or a defect in the structures of the brain. Aside from medication to treat low levels of serotonin, there are natural ways to increase this biochemical in the brain and body, including increasing the consumption of carbohydrates and participating in regular exercise.
Depression
Depression is a major and serious effect of low serotonin in the body. Since high stress can cause the body to use serotonin more quickly than normal and become less efficient at using serotonin, this can lead to depressive episodes. The symptoms of depression resulting from low serotonin are varied but can include feelings of worthlessness, anxiety, apathy and extreme thoughts about harming oneself or others. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs, are commonly prescribed for depression and increase the levels of serotonin in the brain. These drugs include Prozac, Zoloft and Paxil.
Sleep Disturbances
People with low serotonin levels often experience difficulty with sleep patterns and fatigue. During the day, these individuals might experience chronic fatigue, a feeling of always being tired. However, at night when sleep is desired, insomnia may occur, often accompanied by fast-paced thoughts that are difficult to control. People with low serotonin may also find themselves awakening in the middle of the night or in the early morning hours. They are typically unable to get back to sleep when this happens.
Bodily Changes
Since serotonin modulates the activities of the gastrointestinal system, low levels of this hormone can cause difficulties such as nausea, vomiting and constipation. Low serotonin levels are implicated as a cause of irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS. Headaches, cramps and hot or cold flashes may also occur as a result of low serotonin, since the compound regulates overall bodily systems and helps to maintain homeostasis.
SIDS
In infants, a link has been shown between low levels of serotonin and sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS. The brains of babies who died of SIDS were found to have lower levels of serotonin than found in infants who died of other causes, according to a study published Feb. 3, 2010, in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Babies with low serotonin may be unable to respond properly to breathing difficulties and die in their sleep instead of waking to resume breathing as normal infants would.
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