Neurotransmitter Deficiencies:
ADD/ADHD - disturbance of the Dopamine, Norepinephrine, Epinephrine system. PEA is also an important neurotransmitter in focus.
Sleep disturbance - many factors that can influence, either too high excitatory neurotransmitters or too little inhibitory neurotransmitters. Low serotonin and therefore low melatonin are often associated with early morning awakening. Poor quality of sleep is often not diagnosed in those with fatigue, even though the patient may be getting enough hours of sleep.
Menopause and PMS - often associated with low serotonin state. Mood is affected because Estrogen helps the enzyme that converts 5 HTP to serotonin. During the premenstrual phase or menopause there is lower effective estrogen and therefore less serotonin.
Depression - more effective control of depression with specific amino acid therapy can be achieved by understanding the imbalances with testing. Depression can be low Serotonin, Low Dopamine, Low Epinephrine or any combination of these deficiencies.
Fatigue - Usually low excitatory neurotransmitters, and many times these are not as high due to stress of the adrenal glands which decreases epinephrine output.
Anxiety - imbalance of calming/inhibitory neurotransmitters with overabundance of stimulatory neurotramsmitters.
Neurotransmitters Available for Testing:
Inhibitory Neurotransmitters
- GABA-the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the brain, keeps the excitatory system from becoming overactive. Relaxes and calms you down. Low levels are associated with substance abuse, anxiety, panic attacks, seizures, and mood swings.
- Serotonin- important for integrating many areas of brain function. Plays a major role in mood and emotion, increases feelings of calm and contentment. Regulates pathways involved in food craving and vomiting. Low levels result in depressed mood, anxiety, insomnia, food cravings, drug/alcohol abuse, eating disorders, restless leg syndrome, migraine headaches.
Excitatory Neurotransmitters
- Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Increased levels of glutamate can cause death to the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain. Dysfunction in glutamate levels are involved in many neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, Huntington's, and Tourette's. High levels also contribute to Depression, OCD, and Autism.
- Epinephrine also known as adrenaline is a neurotransmitter and hormone essential to metabolism. Regulates attention, mental focus, arousal, and cognition.
- Norepinephrine important for mood, focused attention, and stress response. Excess levels result in mania, high blood pressure, anxiety.
- Dopamine plays a significant role in the cardiovascular, renal, hormonal, and central nervous systems. Involved in motor control, behavior, pleasure-reward, addiction, drive, motivation, concentration, and memory.
- PEA promotes energy, elevates mood, involved with attention, focus, and cognition. Implicated in migraines, ADD/ADHD, psychotic disorders, and Autism.
- Histamine is involved in allergy and inflammatory response. Excess histamine is associated with headaches, migraines, depression, allergies, obsessions. and compulsions.
