Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Serotonin & Celiac & Depression

idonteatwheat

By idonteatwheat
in Related Issues & Disorders

Recommended Posts

idonteatwheat Rookie
idonteatwheat
Posted

I had am ah-ha moment this week and want to share & maybe learn more from others.

Do I have low serotonin levels?

In May I had a huge reaction to Synthroid that put me in bed for days and I haven't bounced back completely. I suspect it set off a reaction of some sort that totally messed with my absorption and hormone levels. Besides all the physical things, it also has effected my moods, sleep and energy levels and I started to think maybe I am "depressed". I took zoloft about a decade ago and it did nothing for me besides upsetting my stomach and making me have no zest for life so I didn't want to go back on medicine. So I started digging into things thinking maybe I had become deficient in something again (I have a past history of vitamin deficiencies and anemia).

I hadn't been sleeping and tried various things to help over the last few months and nothing really worked consistently to get me to sleep and keep me asleep. I think I have my answer, I suspect I am not absorbing the B group well and perhaps not tryptophan. I started taking sub-lingual B-complex and at night a low dose of tryptophan or 5-htp and I have been sleeping and feeling so much better. I also have to avoid carbs/sugars for a few hours before bedtime or it disrupts my sleep (think it is an insulin issue there) but I am sleeping.

So here's my theory, 80% of our serotonin is in our GI tract (in enterochromaffin cells) and the rest is in our platelets and central nervous system. Our GI serotonin is used to regulate the movement of our intestines, now I know when I have been glutened my intestines do a marathon of movements so perhaps that simple act depletes a significant store of serotonin. Then it is followed up by inflammation which may impede the absorption of the nutrients necessary to replenish it. The enterochromaffin cells also release it to platelets which use it to help with clotting (which explains some of my issues with wounds taking longer to stop bleeding maybe). Stress also will deplete serotonin levels so I wonder if this "stress" of being glutened triggers a depletion and we just don't bounce back quickly. Serotonin also plays a role in the communication of the nervous systems with the immune system. Since we are suffering from an autoimmune disease it makes me wonder if there is more of a key here to the causes of gluten ataxia and other neurological issues we experience after being glutened.

Serotonin is made from Vitamin B6 and Tryptophan (well really 5-Hydroxytryptophan, 5-htp). You cannot take Serotonin as it will not cross the brain barrier but the metabolites will, but I wonder if your GI system is deficient if it uses up most of it and less is available for the brain. I know after I am glutened and get over the initial misery I tend to have a sweet tooth and crave carbs and this is a good sign of being low in Serotonin and my body trying to replenish it (which is not good, I've gained 10lbs since May, ughh).

Antidepressants in the SSRI class (zoloft, prozac...etc) do not make more serotonin, they just try to use it more efficiently. I wonder if those who have tried SSRI's and had a bad experience if it was because there wasn't a sufficient amount of serotonin.

Here are some links to foods with higher levels of tryptophan and B6 (just get past the first page on the tryptophan link, some of it made me go ewwwww and I suspect I won't be alone with that.)

http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000079000000000000000.html

http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-000111000000000000000.html

I've been taking supplements but I would like to get to the point where I can consume what I need in my diet and maybe only occasionally need a supplement for say when I've been glutened.

I wish I knew what all I needed to take to counteract the effects of an accidental glutening. I know there is no way to prevent it totally but I would love to be prepared to do what I can so I can bounce back as quick as possible. I just want to feel normal again, whatever that might be these days.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 1 year later...
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


jklivin Newbie
jklivin
Posted

I love getting into the chemical aspects of this disease as I know from personal experience it is not just "a change in diet" and what one eats. I reaad an interesting article on alcohol and GABA receptors and how glutimate is a primary up-regulation In the production of excitetory nuerotransmitters, and seratonin, all which further a drinkers tolerance to alcohol. Chronic consumption of alcoholic beverages, and the consequent chronic sedation causes a counter regulatory response in the brain to maintain balance..

Google dilirium tremens amd read the wikipedia article

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 4 years later...
Andy Hammer Newbie
Andy Hammer
Posted

On my way to Trader Joe's now to pick up some fresh Sea Lion! :o It took many years and tests to finally get a diagnosis of Celiac. One of the tests showed that I had such low serotonin, that it didn't even register! Even now after being gluten free, I still suffer from depression and low energy. I'm sure it will take awhile for me to heal completely. 

Please be aware, 5-htp is ONLY for SHORT TERM USE. I was NEVER made aware of this, until I found out on my own researching it. I had been taking it for TEN YEARS. Turns out it can actually BLOCK the production of serotonin after awhile. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Jmg Mentor
Jmg
Posted
8 hours ago, Andy Hammer said:

On my way to Trader Joe's now to pick up some fresh Sea Lion! :o It took many years and tests to finally get a diagnosis of Celiac. One of the tests showed that I had such low serotonin, that it didn't even register! Even now after being gluten free, I still suffer from depression and low energy. I'm sure it will take awhile for me to heal completely. 

Please be aware, 5-htp is ONLY for SHORT TERM USE. I was NEVER made aware of this, until I found out on my own researching it. I had been taking it for TEN YEARS. Turns out it can actually BLOCK the production of serotonin after awhile. 

Hi Andy and welcome to the forum :) 

I found removing gluten and adhering strictly to the gluten-free diet the single best thing that I've ever done for tackling my depression, but I've also come to realise that for me at least it doesn't mean that depression can't still take hold. Other things help, definitely supplementing with decent B complex, multi vitamins and magnesium. Eating as well as I can and completely removing dairy from my diet as latterly resulted in an upturn in mood, Of course, exercise, sunlight, talking to people also help.

All of the above both more preferable and effective than the multiple SSRI's and other medications that doctors have given me over the years... 

Hopefully you have plenty more healing to come!

 

Matt

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,736
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Haycin
    Newest Member
    Haycin
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Wheatwacked
      Passing out

      By Wheatwacked · Posted

      Welcome @Mary Em, Vitamin D plays an essential role in producing serotonin and minimizing oxidative stress, both of which can affect the migraine brain. Low vitamin D levels may contribute to migraine.  42% of Americans are deficient in vitamin D, 60% of UK adults and up to 75% northern Canadians are deficient in vitamin D.  Virtually all Celiac Disease sufferers are vitamin D deficient. I have been taking 10,000 IU of vitamin D daily since 2015.  In 2019 my 25(OH)D blood test was 47 ng/ml.  Another two years to get up to 80 ng/ml (equal to 200 nmol/L) the normal homeostasis level, where is stays as long as I continue taking oral vitamin D.   Thiamine (vitamin B1) has been associated with a lower risk of migraine. You might start by taking significant amounts of vitamin D and Thiamin supplemental to increase your levels.  If available to you there are blood tests that will give you a baseline.  Worth checking out. Just eating a gluten free diet does stop the ongoing damage that gluten causes, but it does not replenish the vitamin and mineral malnutrition caused by years of undiagnosed Celiac Disease. I also take: Morning 6am or waking. Clonidine 0.1 mg (Blood pressure) Vitamin D 10,000 IU (250 mcg) DHEA 100 mg   Midmorning 500 mcg Iodine 10 drops of Liquid Iodine   Once a day, midafternoon B1 Thiamin 250 mg B2 Riboflavin 100 mg B3 Nicotinic Acid 500 mg B5 Pantothenice Acid 500 mg Vitamin C 500 mg Selenium twice a week 200 mcg  
    • ElisaL
      Passing out

      By ElisaL · Posted

      I have a few times but I have other health problems made worse by the reaction. The main one being a migraine disorder, so really it was the migraine that knocked me out not the gluten. The gluten just set off everything.
    • jmiller93
      What do my test results mean?

      By jmiller93 · Posted

      I’m have a vitamin D deficiency. I’m still waiting on a qualitative fat test to see if I have malabsorption. 
    • knitty kitty
      What do my test results mean?

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @jmiller93, Some of us are seronegative and don't test positive on tTg IgA tests.  Anemia, diabetes, and Thiamine deficiency can cause false negatives on Celiac panels.  Have you been checked for nutritional deficiencies?  Iron? Thiamine?  Vitamin B12?  Vitamin D?  Only one Celiac markers is needed to develop the active disease.   I agree a gluten free diet trial is worth a try.
    • knitty kitty
      strange symptoms/ diagnosis accuracy

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @HWB, Have you been checked for SIBO?  Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth will cause constipation and chemically breath.   The best way to get rid of SIBO is to go on a ketogenic/Paleo diet, like the Autoimmune Protocol Diet.  It starves out the carbohydrate loving bacteria and allows good bacteria to repopulate the small intestine.   The SIBO bacteria can communicate with the brain along the gut-brain axis, making you crave carbs, and in return, the SIBO bacteria can mess with your immune system by lowering inflammation and producing endorphins.  So, it's no wonder you feel better eating sugar.   I took high dose (500-1000 mg/day) Benfotiamine (Thiamine) which promotes intestinal healing and helps keep bacterial in check.  Thiamine and Benfotiamine are safe and nontoxic even in high doses.  High doses (500-1000 mg) every day are required to get results.  The body responds differently to high doses.  Got rid of my SIBO like this.  It was tough, but Celiac makes you stronger.
×
×
  • Create New...