A neurotransmitter is a chemical substance that transmits nerve signals across a synapse. A synapse is a point at which two neurons communicate. Nine low-molecular-weight substances are generally accepted as neurotransmitters. Synthesis of at least five brain neurotransmitters -- acetylcholine, serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine -- require vitamin intake to maintain a normal nutritional status.
Serotonin
Serotonin is synthesized from the essential amino acid tryptophan using vitamin B6. The active metabolite of B6 is pyridoxal phosphate or PLP, which is required to convert tryptophan into serotonin. Because of its action on different receptors, serotonin has been implicated in the regulation of mood, including depression, anxiety, food intake and impulsive violence. The University of Maryland Medical Center explains that vitamin B6 is also necessary for normal brain development and function.
Acetylcholine
Acetylcholine is the only accepted low-molecular weight amine transmitter substance that is not an amino acid or derived directly from one. Vitamins B5, E and C synthesize acetylcholine, deficiency of which can cause depression and fatigue. The three vitamins are responsible for synthesizing a neurochemical called co-enzyme A. Choline, an essential nutrient, combines with co-enzyme A to synthesize acetylcholine. Nervous tissue cannot synthesize choline, which is derived from the diet and delivered to neuron through the bloodstream. Vitamin B5 comes mainly from milk products, eggs and fish. A study published in the October 2001 "Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology" found that supplementation with vitamin E and/or vitamin C might be useful in maintaining the brain acetylcholine activity at the normal level.
Norepinephrine
The synthesis of norepinephrine also requires vitamins C and B6. In the body, the two vitamins convert amino acid tyrosine into norepinephrine. Neurotransmitters along with vitamin C and B6 stimulate the feeding responses.
Dopamine
Dopamine synthesis also requires vitamins C and B6. In the brain, the two vitamins convert amino acid tyrosine into levodopa, a precursor of dopamine. Deficiency of levodopa in the brain can cause various movement disorders such as dystonia and Parkinson's. In a 2009 study conducted at the Pomeranian Medical University, researchers found that the supplementation with vitamin B6 might be useful in reducing the development of Parkinson's disease.
References
- "Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology"; Effect of Supplementation of Vitamin E and Vitamin C on Brain Acetylcholinesterase Activity and Neurotransmitter Levels in Rats Treated with Scopolamine, an Inducer of Dementia; L. Lee, et al.; Oct. 2001
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Vitamin B6
- "Neurologia i Neurochirurgia Polska"; Genetic and Environmental Factors for Hyperhomocysteinaemia and its Clinical Implications in Parkinson's Disease; M. Bialecka; May 2009
- Neuroscience for Kids: Neurotransmitter and Neuroactive Peptides
Member Comments