What Are the Connections between Food and Serotonin?

Also known as serotonin. An indole derivative, molecular formula C10H12N2O, English name: 5-hydroxytryptamine, referred to as 5-HT, is commonly found in animal and plant tissues.

Chinese name: 5-Hydroxytryptamine CAS: 153-98-0
English name: 5-hydroxytryptamine
Molecular formula C10H12N2O

Molecular weight: 176.22 ^[1]

CAS number: 50-67-9

MDL: No

EINECS number: 200-058-9 ^[2]

1. Molar refractive index: 53.49

2. Molar volume: 136.7

3. Isotonic specific volume (90.2K): 391.3

4. Surface tension (dyne / cm): 66.9

5. Polarization rate: 21.20 ^[2]

1. Hydrophobic parameter calculation reference value (XlogP): None

2.Number of hydrogen-bonded donors: 3

3.Number of hydrogen bond acceptors: 2

4.Number of rotatable chemical bonds: 2

5.Number of tautomers: 9

6. Topological molecular polar surface area 62

7.Number of heavy atoms: 13

8.Surface charge: 0

9.Complexity: 174

10.Number of isotope atoms: 0

11. Determine the number of atomic stereocenters: 0

12. Uncertain number of atomic stereocenters: 0

13. Determine the number of chemical bond stereocenters: 0

14. Uncertain number of chemical bond stereocenters: 0

15. Number of covalent bond units: 1 ^[2]

Serotonin can interact with acids to form crystalline salts. Its hydrochloride has a melting point of 167 to 168 ° C; its picrate has a melting point of 185 to 189 ° C. Serotonin has a higher concentration in brain tissue, and it is an important substance that regulates nerve activity. Some body tissues can release serotonin when exposed to certain drugs, such as a

The most widely studied neurotransmitter is serotonin, which is a messenger that produces pleasant emotions and affects almost every aspect of brain activity: from regulating emotions, energy, memory to shaping the outlook on life. Antidepressants such as fluoxetine hydrochloride work by increasing serotonin levels in the brain (but scientists have realized that things are far from simple, and that problems sometimes go beyond neurotransmitter deficiencies. New research looks at Receptors on nerve cells, the receptors on dendrites, consider their number and sensitivity to be able to properly bind and process neurotransmitters. If the receptors are not sufficiently active, information will not be passed on, regardless of whether there is in the brain How many free neurotransmitters are futile. Defective receptors can cause a lot of trouble). People with lower serotonin levels are more likely to develop depression, impulsive behavior, alcoholism, suicide, aggressiveness, and violence. Scientists have even made them more aggressive by changing the levels of serotonin in the brains of experimental animals.

Interestingly, women's brains synthesize serotonin at half the rate of men, which may help explain why women are more likely to develop depression. With aging, the working efficiency of the serotonin pathway decreases, because the receptors that activate serotonin decrease. According to a study, the number of serotonin-specific receptors in the brain has decreased by 60% compared with people aged 60 and 30. As the effectiveness of serotonin decreases, the likelihood of developing depression increases with age.

For patients with depression and alcohol use disorders, SSRIs can improve anxiety and depression, directly reduce alcohol absorption by 15% -20%, but some patients take SSRIs and increase drinking behavior. The results of SSRIs have been mixed for patients with alcohol use disorders without depression. When SSRIs treat alcohol-dependent patients, they can exacerbate the gastrointestinal side effects of SSRIs. Reduce the patient's thirst for alcohol and reduce the amount of alcohol consumed.

In addition, serotonin can enhance memory and protect neurons from "excitation neurotoxins". So adequate serotonin does prevent brain damage during aging.

In addition, in medical physics experiments, serotonin has demonstrated a certain lethal cell effect in side effects. ^[1]