Serotonin, also known as 5-Hydroxytryptamine or 5-HT, is a hormone found in the gut and the central nervous system (CNS). In the gut, serotonin regulates intestinal contractions; in the CNS, it acts as a neurotransmitter, moving messages between nerve cells that regulate mood, appetite and memory. Serotonin levels can be low for several reasons: Either the body does not make enough of the hormone, or there are not enough serotonin receptor cells, leading to lower levels of serotonin available for transmitting messages. Low levels of serotonin can have serious health consequences.
Weight Gain
Serotonin plays a part in regulating how much you eat. Appetite is stimulated by the hormone dopamine. Then, as you eat, serotonin is released to halt the release of dopamine and tell the body that it's had enough food. Low levels of serotonin or a low number of serotonin receptors weaken this process and can lead to overeating and weight gain. A study reported in the January 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Obesity" found that animals with low serotonin levels in the brain developed obesity in adulthood.
Reduced Insulin Secretion
Serotonin may play a role in controlling diabetes mellitus. A report in the October 2009 "PLoS Biology" found a link between serotonin and insulin. Both hormones are located in the beta-cells of the pancreas, but serotonin regulates the secretion of insulin. A lack of serotonin in the beta-cells leads to reduced secretion of insulin and to diabetes mellitus. The study showed that, when antidepressant drugs were given to increase serotonin levels, insulin secretion resumed.
Depressed Mood
Low serotonin levels are involved in mild, moderate and severe depression, disorders characterized by low mood and negative thoughts. A study reported in the January 2010 issue of "Neuropsychopharmacology" found that boosting serotonin transmission decreases negativity and increases positive responses.
Diminished Learning
Serotonin levels can affect the way you learn. A study reported in the January 2009 "Psychopharmacology" found that stress decreases serotonin levels, and animals deprived of serotonin were unable to learn. Treating stressed animals with an antidepressant SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor), increased levels of serotonin and restored some of their ability to learn.
References
- "International Journal of Obesity"; Lack of the serotonin transporter in mice reduces locomotor activity and leads to gender-dependent late onset obesity; Uçeyler N, Schütt M, Palm F, Vogel C, Meier M, Schmitt A, Lesch KP, Mössner R, Sommer C; January 2010
- "PLoS Biology"; Intracellular serotonin modulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells by protein serotonylation. Paulmann N, Grohmann M, Voigt JP, Bert B, Vowinckel J, Bader M, Skelin M, Jevsek M, Fink H, Rupnik M, Walther DJ; October 2009
- "Neuropsychopharmacology;" Serotonin Modulates Sensitivity to Reward and Negative Feedback in a Probabilistic Reversal Learning Task in Rats; Bari A, Theobald DE, Caprioli D, Mar AC, Aidoo-Micah A, Dalley JW, Robbins TW; January 2010
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