Spirulina as a main source of tryptophan for mental illness: Improving level of serotonin through tryptophan supplementation

Abstract

Spirulina is an excellent source of proteins, vitamins, lipids, minerals, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, enzymes and pigments. It is useful in human nutrition, due to the high quality and quantity of its protein (60%-70% of its dry weight). Tryptophan, the natural amino acid precursor in 5-HT biosynthesis, increases serotonin synthesis in the brain. serotonin synthesis mostly will depend on numerous factors including the free plasma tryptophan levels, the plasma levels of tryptophan relative to the other large neutral amino acids, the activity of the system that transports the large neutral amino acids into brain, the gene expression of tryptophan hydroxylase, degradation of tryptophan hydroxylase, compartmentalization of tryptophan and tryptophan hydroxylase in brain cells. The best ways of mental health recovery and prevention are nutritional therapy by supplementing specific nutrients like tryptophan. Such supplementation can help for controlling and preventing mental illness like depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders and anxiety disorders, attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD), autism, and substance use disorder.

Full text

GLOBALJOURNALOFMEDICINEANDPUBLICHEALTH
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www.gjmedph.comVol.
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7,No.
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2018
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ISSN#‐
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2277‐9604
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Spirulinaasamainsourceoftryptophanformentalillness:Improvinglevel
ofserotoninthroughtryptophansupplementation

SileshiDemelash*
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ABSTRACT
Spirulinabeanexcellentsourceofproteins,vitamins,lipids,minerals,
carbohydrates,nucleicacids,enzymesandpigments.Itisusefulinhuman
nutrition,duetothehighqualityandquantityofitsprotein(60%‐70%ofitsdry
weight).Tryptophan,thenaturalaminoacidprecursorin5‐HTbiosynthesis,
increasesserotoninsynthesisinthebrain.serotoninsynthesismostlywill
dependonnumerousfactorsincludingthefreeplasmatryptophanlevels,the
plasmalevelsoftryptophanrelativetotheotherlargeneutralaminoacids,the
activityofthesystemthattransportsthelargeneutralaminoacidsintobrain,
thegeneexpressionoftryptophanhydroxylase,degradationoftryptophan
hydroxylase,compartmentalizationoftryptophanandtryptophanhydroxylase
inbraincells.Thebestwaysofmentalhealthrecoveryandpreventionisnutritionaltherapythrough
supplementingspecificnutrientsliketryptophan.Suchsupplementationcanhelpforcontrollingand
preventingmentalillnesslikedepression,bipolardisorder,schizophrenia,eatingdisordersandanxiety
disorders,attentiondeficitdisorder/attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder(ADD/ADHD),autism,and
substanceusedisorder.
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Keywords:Spirulina,Tryptophan,Serotonin,MentalDisorder
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INTRODUCTION
Arthrospira(Spirulina)aremulticellularand
filamentousblue‐greenalgaethathasgained
considerablepopularityinthehealthfoodindustry
andincreasinglyasaproteinandvitaminsupplement
toaquaculturediets.Itgrowsinwater,canbe
harvestedandprocessedeasilyandhasveryhigh
macro‐andmicro‐nutrientcontents.Ithaslongbeen
usedasadietarysupplementbypeoplelivingcloseto
thealkalinelakeswhereitisnaturallyfound–for
instancethoselivingadjacenttoLakeChadinthe
Kanemregionhaveverylowlevelsofmalnutrition,
despitelivingonaspartanmillet‐basediet.Inmany
countriesofAfrica,itisstillusedashumanfoodasa
majorsourceofproteinandiscollectedfromnatural
water,driedandeaten.Ithasgainedconsiderable
popularityinthehumanhealthfoodindustryandin
manycountriesofAsiaitisusedasprotein
supplementandashealthfood.1
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Spirulinagrowsabundantlyaroundtheworldinvery
alkaline,mineral‐rich,largelypollution‐free,soda
lakes.Itthrivesinverywarmwatersof32to450C
(andhasevensurvivedintemperaturesof600C.
Certaindesert‐adaptedspecieswillsurvivewhen
theirpondhabitatsevaporateintheintensesun,
dryingtoadormantstateonrocksashotas700C.In
thisdormantcondition,thenaturallyblue‐green
bacteriaturnafrostedwhiteanddevelopasweet
flavorasits71%proteinstructureistransformedinto
polysaccharidesugarsbytheheat.Infact,thehotter
itgetsandthemorethemineralsaltsconcentrateas
waterevaporatesthefasterandmoreprolifically
Spirulinagrows.1,2
GJMEDPH2018;Vol.7,issue2
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*CorrespondingAuthor
SileshiDemelash
ResearchandTrainingDepartmentof
AmanuelMentalSpecializedHospital
sileyeshi21@gmail.com
TelephoneNo.+251911261296
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ConflictofInterest—none
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Funding—none
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ISSN#‐
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Viewpoints
Significantlythemostfertilevalleyofsodalakeswith
heavyArthrospiragrowthtodayliesinAfrica.InEast
Africa,theGreatRiftValleybeginsinEthiopiaand
runsverticallythroughdesertwastelandsfor
hundredsofmileslinkingEthiopia,Kenya,Tanzania,
andBotswana.Thisvalleyfloorislinedwithseveral
largesodalakes.Theselakesarelargebasins
concentratinghugequantitiesofmineralsalts
leachedfromthevolcanicsoilsbyrainwaterrunoff
overmillennia.Alongwiththeintenseheatand
sunlightofthearea,theselakesprovidetheperfect
growingconditionsforSpirulina.3,4
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InEthiopia,threesodalakes,LakeArenguade
(Hadho)(approx.3kmsouthofBishoftu),LakeKilole
(approx.14kmEastofBishoftu)andLakeChitu
(approx.37KmwestofShashemenenearbySenbete
Shala)wereknownaslakesrichwithSpirulina.But
KenyaandChadarethespirulina“breadbaskets".In
Kenya‐ LakeBogoria(11+squaremiles),Lake
Elementita(7+squaremiles),LakeMagadi(29+
squaremiles),LakeNakuru(30squaremiles),and
LakeTurkana(2,325squaremiles)containquantities
ofSpirulina.3,4
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Since1970,Spirulinahasbeenanalyzedchemically.It
hasbeenshowntobeanexcellentsourceofproteins,
vitamins,lipids,minerals,carbohydrates,nucleic
acids,enzymesandpigments.Itisusefulinhuman
nutrition,duetothehighqualityandquantityofits
protein(60%‐70%ofitsdryweight).Thenutritive
valueofaproteinisrelatedtothequalityofamino
acids,digestibilitycoefficient,aswellasbyits
biologicalvalue.Spirulinacontainsessentialamino
acids;thehighestvaluesareleucine(540mgper
10m),valine(400mgper10g)andisoleucine(350mg
per10g)andtryptophan(90mgper10g).
DenaturationofArthrospiraproteinisobservedwhen
itisheatedabove670C,atneutralaqueoussolution.
Hydrophobicregionsinteractionduringheatingand
hydrogenbondsformationduringcoolingare
aggregationandgelationfactorsofArthrospira
protein.4‐7
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TRYPTOPHANASAPRECUSOR’SSEROTONIN
Tryptophan,thenaturalaminoacidprecursorin5‐HT
biosynthesis,increases5‐HTsynthesisinthebrain
and,therefore,maystimulate5‐HTreleaseand
function.Sinceitisanaturalconstituentofthediet,
tryptophanshouldhavelowtoxicityandproducefew
sideeffects.Basedontheseadvantages,dietary
tryptophansupplementationhasbeenusedinthe
managementofneuropsychiatricdisorderswith
variablesuccess.8

Therateofserotoninsynthesismostlywilldependon
numerousfactorsincludingthefreeplasma
tryptophanlevels,theplasmalevelsoftryptophan
relativetotheotherlargeneutralamino
acids,theactivityofthesystemthattransportsthe
largeneutralaminoacidsintobrain,thegene
expressionoftryptophanhydroxylase,degradation
oftryptophanhydroxylase,compartmentalizationof
tryptophanandtryptophanhydroxylaseinbrain
cells.9
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Theserotonergicsystemformsadiffusenetwork
withinthecentralnervoussystemandplaysa
significantroleintheregulationofmoodand
cognition.Thegut‐brainaxisisabi‐directional
systembetweenthebrainandgastrointestinaltract,
linkingemotionalandcognitivecentresofthebrain
withperipheralfunctioningofthedigestivetract.An
influenceofgutmicrobiotaonbehaviorisbecoming
increasinglyevident,asistheextensionto
tryptophanandserotonin,producingapossibility
thatalterationsinthegutmaybeimportantinthe
pathphysiologyofhumancentralnervoussystem
disorders.10

Dysfunctionoftheserotoninergicsystemhaslong
beensuspectedinmajordepressionandrelated
disorders.Drug‐freedepressedpatientshavelower
thannormalconcentrationsofserotoninmetabolites
incerebrospinalfluidandpost‐mortembraintissue,
lowerthannormalplasmatryptophan
concentrations,andanincreaseinthedensityof
brainbindingsitesforserotonin.Serotonin,
neurotransmitterinthebrain,ismadeupofthe
aminoacidtryptophan.Adeficiencyinoneorbothof
theseaminoacidsisassociatedwithlowmoodand
aggression.

Tryptophanhydroxylase,therate‐limitingenzymeon
thepathwayfromtryptophantoserotonin,isnot
normallysaturatedwithtryptophan.Inhumans,

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ISSN#‐
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Viewpoints
increasingtryptophanlevelscanincreaseserotonin
synthesisasmuchastwofold,11whiledecreasing
tryptophanavailabilitycancauseasubstantial
declineinserotoninsynthesisandturnover.12When
tryptophanisgiventoincreaseserotoninsynthesis,a
doseof6g(aboutsixtimesthenormaldailydietary
intake)13isenoughtosaturatetryptophan
hydroxylaseanddoubletherateofserotonin
synthesis.14,15Howeverdietarymodificationand
eatingbalancedfoodthatcanimprovebrain
concentrationofaminoacidtryptophanisagood
optiontominimizesideeffectandimprove
complianceofpatients.

TRYPTOPHANDEPLETIONRELATEDMENTAL
DISORDER
TRPdepletioncausesclinicallysignificantdepressive
symptomsinremitteddepressedpatientstaking
medication.AstudybyDelgadoandothersin1990
foundthatTRPdepletioncausedatransient
depressiverelapsein67%ofdepressedpatientswho
recentlyhadtherapeuticantidepressantresponsesto
somemedications.16

Themostcommonmentaldisordersthatare
currentlyprevalentinvariouscountriesare
depression,bipolardisorder,schizophrenia,
substanceusedisorderandobsessive‐compulsive
disorder.17,19Lowbrainserotonin(5‐HT)levelsor
functionhavebeenimplicatedinvarioustypesof
psychopathology,includingdepression,suicide,
aggression,anxiety,andbulimia.9Anotablefeature
ofthedietsofpatientssufferingfrommental
disordersistheseverityofdeficiencyinthese
nutrients.20Studieshaveindicatedthatdaily
supplementsofvitalnutrientsareofteneffectivein
reducingpatients'symptoms.21Supplements
containingaminoacidshavealsobeenfoundto
reducesymptoms,astheyareconvertedto
neurotransmitterswhichinturnalleviatedepression
andothermentalhealthproblems.20

Mooddisorderssuchasmajordepressionare
commonillnesseswithconsiderablemorbidityand
significantmortality.Animbalanceinserotoninbrain
chemicalwhichisderivedfromprecursortryptophan
(5‐hydroxytryptamine;5‐HT)iscriticallyinvolvedin
thesymptomsanddevelopmentofclinical
depression.22Thisisaclearindicationofroleof
tryptophaninalleviatingdepression.

TRYPTOPHANSUPPLEMENTATIONFORMENTAL
DISORDER
Thiscanindicatesthebestwaysofmentalhealth
recoveryandpreventionisnutritionaltherapy
throughsupplementingnutritionandfollowinga
gooddietarypractice.Thesemaybeappropriatefor
controllingandtosomeextent,preventing
depression,bipolardisorder,schizophrenia,eating
disordersandanxietydisorders,attentiondeficit
disorder/attentiondeficithyperactivitydisorder
(ADD/ADHD),autism,andsubstanceusedisorder.21

Majorityofpsychiatricmedicationincluding
antipsychoticandantidepressanthaveownside
effects.20Thiscanleadspatientsnottocomplytheir
medicationandfamiliestoneglecttheaffected
individualandincreasehealthcost.Thiscanalso
increaselengthofstayinthehospital,professional
liabilityandrateofcomplication.23Thisusually
causesthepatientstoskiptakingtheirmedications.
Suchnoncomplianceisacommonchallengefor
healthcareproviderandfamilieslateritcommitting
suicideorbeinginstitutionalizedandincrease
mortalityrates.24

Majorityofindividualsarenotawareofwhat,how
andwhentoeat.Thisshowsthattheyarenotaware
thebondbetweendietandhealthrathertheyeasily
observethelinkbetweennutritionaldeficienciesand
physicalillness.Mentalillnessisresultedbecauseof
animbalanceofbrainchemicalleadingasa
biochemicalandemotionalbased.Achangeinbrain
signaltransmissionatthelevelofchemicalsynapse
areessentialinthedevelopmentofmentaldisorders
orachangeinaneurotransmitter'schemical
structure,oranimbalanceatanypointinthis
complexprocess,mayaffectemotions,moods,
thoughts,andbehaviors.25,36Hencenutritioncanplay
intheonsetaswellasseverityanddurationofthe
illness.21

Depressionisadisorderassociatedwithmajor
symptomssuchasincreasedsadnessandanxiety,
lossofappetite,depressedmood,andalossof
interestinpleasurableactivities.Withoutan

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Viewpoints
immediateintervention,itcannegative
consequenceslikecommittingasuicide.18Lowlevel
ofbrainchemicalorneurotransmitterslikeserotonin,
dopamine,noradrenalin,andγ‐aminobutyricacid
(GABA)areoftenassociatedwithdepression.17‐21
Differentstudyshowsthat,theaminoacids
tryptophan,tyrosine,phenylalanine,andmethionine
areoftensupportiveintreatingmanymooddisorders
includingdepression.26‐28,37Injectionoftryptophan
especiallywithanemptystomachwilleasily
convertedintoserotoninandhelpsincalmnessof
theindividualandcanhelpsanindividualtohavea
qualitysleep.Thisrestorationorimprovingthelevel
ofserotoninthatcantreatdepressionisanindication
ofthatthecauseofserotonindeficiencyisdiet.27‐31,35
Concentrationsofcerebrospinalfluid(CSF)5‐
hydroxyindoleaceticacid(5‐HIAA),theprincipal
metaboliteoftheneurotransmitterserotonin,leads
serotoninturnoverorbrainconcentrationof
serotonin.33Thiscanleadsanxietyandimpulsive
control,suicidality,depressionandalcoholism.32‐34

CONCLUSION
Spirulinaisagoodsourceofmostnutrientsneeded
forourbodyespeciallyforourbrain.Asmostmental
illnessisresultedfromanimbalanceinbrainchemical
atthelevelofthesynapse,focusingonnutritional
therapyisoneofthebestwaysofimprovingmental
disorder.BecauseMedicationsachievetheirintended
effects,improvedcompliancewithmedication,less
needforadditionalmedicationorhigherdosages,
fewercaloricornutrientsupplementsarerequired,
adversesideeffectsareavoided,optimalnutritional
statusispreserved,accidentsandinjuriesare
avoided,diseasecomplicationsareminimized,the
costofhealthcareservicesisreducedandthereis
lessprofessionalliability.Therefore,Spirulinaisthe
mostimportantcreatureinthisplanetwhichisabest
sourceofforfreelyavailableitcanbethebestoption
toimprovetheaminoacidandothernutrient
requiredforourmentalhealth.

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

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
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
Viewpoints
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