title: The influence of meal composition on plasma serotonin and norepinephrine concentrations.
abstract: Reports concerning changes in plasma neurotransmitter values that result from dietary manipulations have not been published so far. The influence of various meal compositions on platelet-poor plasma (PPP) serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine (NE) levels was investigated. Healthy volunteers were subjected to three test meals: a carbohydrate-rich meal (86% carbohydrates), a protein-rich meal (70% protein), and a fat-rich meal (92% fat). After a carbohydrate-rich meal, PPP 5-HT values increased significantly (4.47-fold, P less than .02), whereas a smaller increase (1.66-fold, P = NS) was observed after a fat-rich meal. These effects on PPP 5-HT values could be correlated with insulin plasma levels. A protein-rich meal significantly reduced (P = 0.0011) PPP 5-HT to 28% of initial values, despite an increase in plasma insulin levels. This study has shown that (1) changes in meal compositions influence PPP 5-HT and, to a lesser extent, NE values; (2) the resulting changes in PPP 5-HT levels parallel those reported for brain neurotransmitters; and (3) these results seem to indicate that PPP 5-HT levels may be a model for brain synthesis and release of 5-HT.
authors.affiliation: Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv Souraski Medical Center, Ischilov Hospital, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blum
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Vered
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Graff
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Grosskopf
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Don
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harsat
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Raz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine