Serotonin is defined as "an organic compound formed from tryptophan and found in the brain, platelets, digestive tract and pineal gland," as stated by the Vitamins and Health Supplements Guide website. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter found throughout the brain. It is able to affect many different functions throughout the body such as temperature regulation, behavior and mood, muscle contraction and cardiovascular function and memory and learning. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition website, "several lines of investigation have shown that the chemistry and function of both the developing and the mature brain are influenced by diet."
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 plays a large role in many chemical reactions in the body. It helps to convert fats, proteins and carbohydrates into useable energy and is required to synthesize serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan. According to the American Journal of Nutrition website, "Administering either the amino acid itself or meals that raise tryptophan access to serotonin neurons rapidly stimulates serotonin production." Vitamin B6 affects mood, sleep and appetite through serotonin. According to the Psychology Today website, "severe deficiencies of several B vitamins have been shown to have profound effects on the brain, leading to abnormal brain waves."
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 is important for the chemical reaction of energy production from fats and proteins. It is essential for the metabolism of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and helps the neurotransmitters to fire properly. According to the Psychology Today website, vitamin B12 has a role in speeding signals through the brain by contributing to the myelin sheath around nerve cells. Myelin sheath is the protective layer that surrounds the cells enabling connections between those cells. If the myelin sheath breaks down, neurons cannot fire or connect with other neurons, leading to a variety of neurological problems, including depression. The Linus Pauling Institute reports that "observational studies have found as many as 30 percent of patients hospitalized for depression are deficient in vitamin B12."
Folic Acid
Folic acid, or folate, is crucial to brain development, physical and mental health. "The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" states that for the treatment of depression in adults, folate was found to be an effective application. While folic acid does not have a direct impact on serotonin, it has been "linked to the maintenance of adequate brain concentrations of tetrahydrobiopterin, a cofactor in the synthesis of serotonin," according to The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
References
- Vitamins & Health Supplements Guide: Serotonin
- Psychology Today: Vitamins: Busy B's
- The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: Can Nutrient Supplements Modify Brain Function?
- Nutrition for Healthy Living: Vitamin B6 Sources-Vitamin B6 Deficiency
- Vitamins & Health Supplements Guide: Folic Acid (Folate, Vitamin B9)
