title: Effects of the diet on brain function.
abstract: The rates of synthesis by brain neurons of the neurotransmitters serotonin, acetylcholine, and the catecholamines depend on the brain levels of the respective precursor molecules. Brain levels of each precursor are influenced by their blood concentration, and for the amino acid precursors, by the blood levels of other amino acids as well. Since diet readily alters blood concentrations of each of these precursors, it thereby also influences the brain formation of their neurotransmitter products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Food Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge 02139, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fernstrom
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000378:metabolism; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D014443:Tyrosine; D014364:Tryptophan; D002794:Choline; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine