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Brain serotonin in excessive carbohydrate snacking craving

Wednesday, December 5, 2012 12:10

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Home of Kyle J. Norton for The Better of Living & Living Health Serotonin or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) is a monoamine neurotransmitter derived from tryptophan, primarily found in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, platelets, and in the central nervous system (CNS). In Gut, serotonin regulates intestinal movements, in CNS, it regulates mood, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, etc.
Brain serotonin in excessive carbohydrate snacking craving
Brain neurotransmitter serotonin plays an essential role in a specific hunger for carbohydrate-rich foods in animals and human beings, researchers found that consumption of a carbohydrate-rich meal increases the synthesis and release of brain serotonin (by enhancing the brain uptake of its precursor, tryptophan). As a consequence of this increased release of serotonin, carbohydrate intake is decreased at the next meal. Consumption of protein does not increase brain serotonin levels or decrease carbohydrate intake. A subgroup of obese individuals who consume carbohydrate-rich snack foods at specific times of day or evening has been identified. Such individuals do not routinely snack on protein-rich foods, and their consumption of calories and nutrients at meals is not excessive. Evidence is presented that carbohydrate snacking seems to be related to a “need” to increase the level of brain serotonin; treatment with a drug, d-1 fenfluramine, that increases serotoninergic neurotransmission significantly decreases carbohydrate snack consumption. Weight loss among the population of carbohydrate cravers might be most successful if treatment includes either a diet or drugs that increase brain serotonin activity when the need to snack on carbohydrate is most likely to occur(2).

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