3 replies to this topic

[heyeddy]

So the blood serotonin test is typically done to confirm the diagnosis or carcinoid tumor but are there any general norms for serotonin? 

According to http://slu.adam.com/...id=1&gid=003562 the normal range is 101 to 283 ng/mL.

I know this serotonin blood test does not correlate to the serotonin level in brain however my score was 80 ng/mL which is kinda low (after l-tryptophan supplementation). I am asking because the minute I eat SSRI/SNRI or drug that boosts serotonin my IBS disappears. Is there any correlation?

[omegaterus]

http://www.ncbi.nlm....pubmed/22664303

 

Correlation of serotonin levels in CSF, platelets, plasma, and urine.

 

For serotonin, the new method of measuring platelet levels resulted in a very high correlation with levels of serotonin in CSF in rats (r=0.97) and humans (r=0.97). There were lower correlations of levels of serotonin in CSF with levels in plasma (r=0.77 for rats and r=0.57 in humans) and urine (r=0.67 in rats and r=0.62 in humans).

 

Several labs already offer measuring neurotransmitters in blood platelets, for example the European Laboratory of Nutrients (ELN) near Utrecht in Netherlands, and their US counterpart Health Diagnostics and Research Institute (HDRI).

 

I did the test there, and in indicated low serotonin and high dopamine, which correlates well with my symptoms.

 

The test is called "Catecholamines in platelets", and it measures norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, metanephrine, normetanephrine and acetylcholine. Additionally Histamine (from whole blood).

 

Maybe some other labs offer it too.

[heyeddy]

omegaterus: have you resolved your symptoms? if so how SSRI? 

[omegaterus]

Not yet, but I am working on it.

 

And no, I am not gonna use any SSRI, in fact I'd rather stay with my symptoms then use an SSRI, the side effects can be worse.

 

I am using SAMe, Trimethylglycine, Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate, Methylcobalamin, Magnesium Malate, L-Tryptophan Peptides, L-Theanine, possibly Inositol, 5-HTP, GABA.

 

All mostly according to the book Nutrient Power: Heal Your Biochemistry and Heal Your Brain by William J. Walsh.

 

I also take 5-MTHF against recommendation by Walsh, because according to him folates increase serotonin uptake (opposite of what SSRI's do), but I'm not so sure its an issue for me, as I have low blood RBC folate.

 

And herbs: Rhodiola Rosea root extract (slows down serotonin breakdown), Ashwagandha root extract, maybe Spanish saffron and Cat's claw bark extract.