Posted by Bob P (129.65.46.87) on February 03, 2000 at 10:11:18:
In Reply to: Tryptophan...Serotonin...Please elaborate :-)(E) posted by Miguel on February 03, 2000 at 00:19:54:
Poultry & dairy products are big sources of tryptophan. Tryptophan is converted in our bodies to 5-HTP (5-hydroxytriptophan) and then to 5-HT (serotonin). The medications that work well for CH (the triptans) act as 5-HT agonists (agonist=acts like the real stuff). Now here is where I get confused. I thought that if you were to boost your 5-HT levels, it make more available to attach to the 5-HT receptors on the neurons in the central nervous system and would be like taking Imitrex. The other thought is that the triptans attach to the 5-HT receptors on the neurons and make the body think it has enough so it quits putting 5-HT into the neural snyaps'. Now the triptans only act on certain 5-HT receptors ,5-HT 1D and 1A I think, so maybe loading up on 5-HT in general is worthless. Either way, I don't think 5-HT is the cause of CH. The problem lies deeper in the systems that control/manufacture the stuff. The different levels of 5-HT are the result.
Hope this helps.
LYG
Bob P