5-HTP neurotransmitter, 5HTP serotonin, 5 HTP dopamine, L-dopa, tyrosine

NeuroResearch Clinics relies exclusively on DBS Labs for "urinary neurotransmitter testing" of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in research for the following reasons. There is too much bad information on the street regarding "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing". We take this opportunity to review bad serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter information and juxtapose it against peer reviewed literature on the subject of "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing".

LABS SHOULD EARN YOUR TRUST

Medical doctors are taught to place a high degree of trust in the hospital and clinic lab. NeuroResearch Clinics has found that there are non-hospital, non-clinic labs out there that may not deserve this trust this same trust. Early on NeuroResearch Clinics contracted for urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab testing and found it not to be of the caliber found in hospitals and clinics. As a physician who had been hospital and clinic based for over 35 years as I thought all medical labs were the same, they are not. Laboratories supervised by medical doctors with hospital affiliation and labs supervised by people with no medical license or no hospital affiliation are like night and day. In contracting early on with labs, where the people running the lab had no hospital affiliation, no medical license, no clinic, no medical training, and no patient care responsibilities, after several thousand labs were obtained it was realized that lab results were not calibrated to hospital standards. In turn this caused NeuroResearch to discard (throw out) thousands of urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter labs obtained from sources with no hospital privileges or affiliation. This type of "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" from sources with no hospital privilege credentials is still available to this day. We get regular reports from physicians using this type of "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" claiming that virtually none of their patients achieve relief of symptoms. This raises the question, "Why are these doctors continuing to use urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing that does nothing to make the patient better?

Early on we had urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab testing from numerous sources other than DBS Labs. In all cases we found the urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab data reported by these other non-hospital affiliated, non-clinic, non-MD sources to be so flawed that all data had to be removed and discarded from research considerations. Having wasted two years of research time after finding out we had received several thousand urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter assays that were worthless Tom Uncini, MD a dual board certified hospital based (Hibbing and Cook Hospitals in Minnesota) laboratory pathologist founded DBS Labs for assay of urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A LAB IS BAD?

How would you know if the urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab results reported by a lab are flawed? First look at the reference range reported by the lab in baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing". This value is suppose to represent the lab values you will obtain sampling people in the general population off the street. In a proper reference range the values obtained are within two standard deviations of the mean. If a lab is reporting that almost all the baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine as low or in the lower end of the reference range that lab is miscalibrated reporting flawed urinary serotonin and dopamine lab results. 95% of the labs obtained in baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" should be in the reference range and in uniform distributed across the reference range. Lack of uniform distribution across the reference range is prima fascia evidence of improperly calibrated and/or erroneously reported urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab testing.

All labs are not the same, if you are going to work in the world of "high complexity labs" known as "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" you need a board certified hospital based laboratory pathologist in charge to insure the results you receive are valid. We have yet to seen a lab operated by people with no medical license and no hospital affiliation that generates "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" results that are useful in research.

IT IS NOT INTUITIVE!!!

What the U of MN Medical School paper on NeuroResearch work says?

The neurotransmitter molecules of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine found in the urine are not peripheral serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules filtered at the glomerulous and excreted in the urine. These are serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules that are synthesized by the kidneys as excreted into the urine.

It is a common misconception that as you increase serotonin levels in the central nervous system or peripheral nervous system through administration of the serotonin precursor 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP that the urinary serotonin levels will increase as well. But the fact is this is not the case, there is in fact no correlation between administration of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP and urinary serotonin levels, none!. The only correlation that exists is when the phase of the urinary serotonin is determined. If a lab tries to tell you that it can demonstrate consistent elevation of urinary serotonin with administration of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP they are not reporting accurate lab results and ma have miscalibrated lab equipment in running urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing. The link at the left contains excerpts from the University of Minnesota Medical School paper on the work of NeuroResearch Clinics. This paper clearly notes, "Curiously, 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP did not exhibit a clear influence on urinary serotonin excretion when 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP doses were compared to urinary..."

MORE HINTS YOU HAVE A BAD LAB

You know you have a bad lab on your hands when:

1. The lab recommends baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" prior to starting 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa.

THE SCIENCE: Baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" in the endogenous state prior to administration of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and L-dopa aka dopa dosing that achieves the competitive inhibition state is of no value and no correlation with "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" obtained once the patient is taking 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and L-dopa aka dopa.

2. If the lab suggests that the "urinary neurotransmitter testing" of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine correlates with peripheral and/or central nervous system levels.

THE SCIENCE: Urinary serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) that are synthesized by the kidneys and have no correlation with central or peripheral serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels.

3. If the lab doesn't have a clue what the three phases of urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter response are and what they represent.

THE SCIENCE: As noted in the University of Minnesota Medical School paper the only correlation that exists between taking 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and L-dopa aka dopa and urinary serotonin and dopamine are the three phases of response when the 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and L-dopa aka dopa dosing is changed and two urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter labs are compared.

4. If the lab asserts that the monoamine neurotransmitter molecules serotonin and dopamine cross the blood brain barrier.

THE SCIENCE: Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) do not cross the blood brain barrier. Despite the fact that this has been established for years we continue to hear assertions from non-hospital affiliated labs that the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules do cross the blood brain barrier.

Peer reviewed literature supporting the statements at the left.

Sometimes you can take a negative and turn it into a positive. We use an non-peer reviewed article posted on the internet which has been used as a marketing tool by a non-hospital, non-clinic, lab to point out "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" misconceptions that fly in the face of science as it exists while exploring what the peer reviewed scientific literature of the world actually says regarding "urinary neurotransmitter testing" of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine in an effort to review misconception and the scientific facts.

We review the article, "Urinary Neurotransmitter Testing, Myths and Misconceptions". In many ways this article reflects the state of thinking in the area of "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter test" in the 1990s and does not reflect the current state of knowledge where peer reviewed literature has exploded since 2003.

Link to The Myths Article

Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine found in the urine are serotonin an d dopamine neurotransmitter molecules synthesized by the kidneys. Despite this fact the "Myths" article asserts on page 2, "neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) circulating in the blood are filtered by the kidneys and subsequently excreted in the urine." One step further in The Myths article is the assertion that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine neurotransmitter molecules cross the blood brain barrier. Then makes the assertion, "The studies described above suggest a relationship between urinary neurotransmitter measurements and CNS levels." In review of the literature cited in this assertion no support for the claim could be found. Serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules found in the urine have been in the central nervous system, they are serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules that were synthesized by the kidneys. The basic science involved is misrepresented. This web page is dedicated to setting the record straight and teaching what is really going on with urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels.

The Myths article claims appear to be a myth and flies in the face of all scientific literature out there in claiming serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine cross the blood brain barrier. The myths article is flimsy. When full text versions of the reference cited in the myths bibliography are pulled and reviewed conclusions in The Myths Article are a mis-representing what is said in the full text version of the literature cited. On the link to the left is 17 literature articles that teach away from the unique and one of a kind non-science supported teachings of The Myths article (a non-peer reviewed article used in marketing).

The Myths article asserts that serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are filtered at the glomerulous and excreted in the urine. This assertion by Myths flies in the face of all literature out there and has no basis in face. This links at the right examine literature sources for urinary neurotransmitter molecules serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

In a properly calibrated lab, of the caliber found in hospitals, baseline "urinary neurotransmitter testing" of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine has no correlation with "urinary neurotransmitter testing" (serotonin, dopamine) once the patient is taking 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and L-dopa aka dopa. The only advocates we have seen of baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine appear to be labs run by non-MDs with no hospital privilege affiliation, no medical license to practice medicine, and lab quality assurance issues where almost all baseline returned show results that are low relative to the reference range.

The goal of treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine s to get the urinary serotonin and dopamine in the neurotransmitter phase 3 therapeutic range (serotonin, dopamine) or relief of symptoms for the patient which ever comes first. These links discuss the urinary neurotransmitter three phase concept.

In administering L-dopa aka dopa "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" reveals fluctuations in dopamine levels, these fluctuations can be managed by administering tyrosine aka L-tyrosine (not n-acetyl-tyrosine) with L-dopa aka dopa in proper amounts. The links at the left discuss the concept of "the tyrosine aka L-tyrosine base".

Outliers are urinary serotonin and dopamine lab values generated that do not fit that pattern of other labs obtains. The two links at the right discuss lab outliers.

The proper time to collect a urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter sample is 5 to 6 hours before bed time. This link discusses why, if the lab suggests collecting in the AM you have a bad lab procedure on your hands.

NeuroResearch Clinics Logo

Link to DBS Labs Web Site

Site linked to this page with neurotransmitter links

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 5HTP 19

Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects of dietary 5 HydroxyTryptophan and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine on urinary excretion of serotonin and dopamine in a large human population.

George J. Trachte, Thomas Uncini and Marty Hinz, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of MN Medical School Duluth, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812, County Coroner etc

EXCERPT #1

From the University of Minnesota Medical School paper; there is no correlation between dosing of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP administered and urinary serotonin levels. The only correlation found was when 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP dosing levels were changed then urinary levels were compared leading to the finding that urinary serotonin response with administration of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP exits is three distinct phases.

EXCERPT #2

Curiously, 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP did not exhibit a clear influence on urinary serotonin excretion when 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP doses were compared to urinary serotonin excretion; however, a relationship was observed when alterations in 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP dose were compared to alterations in urinary serotonin excretion. The data indicate three, statistically discernible, components to 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP responses, including inverse, no and direct relationships between urinary serotonin excretion and 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP doses.

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 5HTP 20

Marty Hinz, MD Depression in I. Kohlstadt (ed.) Food and Nutrients in Disease Management (CRC Press, 2009)

VI: PATIENT EVALUATION, "URINARY NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING"

MONOAMINES IN THE KIDNEYS

"urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter testing" prior to 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa therapy is of no value. There is no correlation between baseline "urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter testing" and urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter phases once the patient is taking 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa. It is not necessary or even useful to measure baseline "urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter testing" in treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine.

Urinary monoamine neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) do not cross the blood brain barrier. Urinary monoamine serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter molecules are not serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter molecules filtered by the glomerulous of the kidneys and excreted into the urine. They are urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter molecules that are synthesized by the kidneys and excreted into the urine or secreted into the system via the renal veins.²⁰ With simultaneous administration of serotonin and dopamine precursors 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa, three phases of urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter response have been identified on laboratory assay of the urine. The three phases of response apply to both serotonin and dopamine. In all the life forms tested for urinary serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter levels that have kidneys along with serotonin and catecholamine systems, the three phases of serotonin, dopamine urinary neurotransmitter response exist.⁴⁰ In reviewing the literature it would appear that the 3 phase of urinary response to serotonin, dopamine neurotransmitter molecules were present in previous writings but were not identified as such. For example, a 1999 article notes that administration of L-dopa aka dopa can increase urinary dopamine levels (neurotransmitter phase 3) and decrease urinary serotonin levels (neurotransmitter phase 1).⁴

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 5HTP 18

LAB "URINARY NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING" STATS

Ø 64.1% of patients receive only one urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter test (consistent with complete relief of symptoms after adjusting 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa based on one neurotransmitter test - serotonin and dopamine).

Ø At present, DBS Labs is performing over 20,000 urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter assays a year.

Ø Less than 2% of patient urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter tests display an usual pattern where the patient ultimately ends up on a low dose of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP ( < 150 mg per day) and a high dose of tyrosine aka L-tyrosine ( > 6 grams per day). These patients typically need 4 to 6 urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter tests for relief of symptoms and over 95% carry a diagnosis of depression.

Ø In reviewing the lab "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" of over 4,000 patients in the last year, the average number of urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter tests per patient is 1.81 neurotransmitter tests (serotonin, dopamine).

Ø The database record for “most urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter tests ordered on one patient” is 21. In reviewing the data, virtually none of the NeuroResearch treatment suggestions regarding 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine were followed.

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 1

neurotransmitter urban legends

Debunking the Urban Legends of

"URINARY NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING"

(serotonin, dopamine)

The Following Statements Are True

--Urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules are not serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules filtered by the kidneys and excreted into the urine, they are neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) that are synthesized by the kidneys then excreted into the urine.

--Urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules are not serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules that have been in the central or peripheral nervous systems.

--The monoamine neurotransmitter molecules serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine do not cross the blood brain barrier.

--Baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" has no value in diagnosing diseases such as depression, ADHD, etc. associated with low urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels.

--Baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" prior to starting 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa is of no value.

--"urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" has no value in treating disease such as depression, ADHD, etc. with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine symptoms if the urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter phase is not determined.

--"urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" is only of value in treating symptoms with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine when the goal of treatment is to establish urinary serotonin and dopamine levels in "The neurotransmitter phase 3 Therapeutic Response".

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 2

LABORATORY "URINARY NEUROTRANSMITTER TESTING" CONFUSION

By: Marty Hinz, MD

neurotransmitter confussion

In 1997, when we started treating patients in our medical clinic with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa, much of the information in the literature and on the internet was flawed or extremely incomplete. Since that time, we have seen the emergence of urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing companies based on flawed information. Labs where no one has a medical license and no one has ever cared for patients. Yet, they hold out that they have the expertise to tell physicians how to treat their patients with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa. The bad part is there are physicians listening.

Baseline "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" (serotonin, dopamine) prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine is of no value, yet there are labs out there that state they can show you virtually all patients have low levels of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine and therefore need treatment. Come on! What happened to the reference range calibrated to two standard deviations of the mean for the population?

If everyone tested with "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" has low levels of serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules, then the reference range would be moved lower during proper calibration and once again very few would have levels below the reference range. By definition two standard deviations from the mean will give a population where only about 5% are not in the rage defined.

By reporting that patients have low serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels (serotonin, dopamine below the reference range), the labs fail to identify the source of disease such as depression, ADHD, etc. and the real problem, lab calibration.

95% of patients with serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter related diseases such as depression, ADHD, etc. prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine typically have serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels in the reference range (by definition). The diseases such as depression, ADHD, etc. symptoms are usually the result of neuron bundle damage. Therefore, they need serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels high enough to stimulate the remaining viable neurons. By increasing serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels above the reference range in serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter phase 3, it is possible to compensate for neuron damage leading to resolution of disease symptoms such as depression, ADHD, etc..

Labs that report most patients have low urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels have miscalibrated reference ranges. These results have nothing to do with the central or peripheral serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter levels. The whole situation from the lab, to the doctor creates confusion and takes advantage of the patient when all labs prior to treatment with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, L-dopa aka dopa, and tyrosine aka L-tyrosine are reported as low.

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 5HTP 16

LABORATORIES ARE NOT THE SAME

Two days ago, while assisting an MD on the phone with a problem the light came on, “What we know and take for granted here at NeuroResearch Clinics is not something everyone knows.” The physician was having a problem with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa tolerance on start-up. A plan was laid out to get the patient on a low dose of 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa, and then obtain a urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter test followed by a dosing change and a second neurotransmitter test (serotonin, dopamine) in order to map out a plan to get this patient’s symptoms under control. The MD mentioned, “I have obtained "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" from another lab and there did not appear to be much wrong.” The real answer to her question was that the "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" results of DBS Labs directed by Tom Uncini, MD - dual board certified laboratory pathologist who has been hospital based for over 20 years have no correlation with the urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter test results of other companies who promote that they are working with 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa and "urinary neurotransmitter testing" - none (serotonin, dopamine).

We are not sure what causes the problems with the lab results reported of other labs, we can only speculate. Urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter lab results are not merely reported out as they come off a lab machine, the numbers from the lab machines need to be inserted into a computer program, which calculates the “serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter/creatinine” ratio. Creatinine standardizes the measurement by compensating for the change in the dilution of the urine, which allows an accurate urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter reading.

This is a very complex formula where the molecular weight of creatinine (113.2) and several parameters need to be programmed in properly to get valid final results.

Herein lies the confusion - we know that the "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" of DBS Labs, when plugged into the 5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP, tyrosine aka L-tyrosine, and/or L-dopa aka dopa treatment that we have developed works great but "urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter testing" of other labs has no correlation with the findings and reporting of DBS Labs Pathologist Tom Uncini, MD.

5-HTP aka 5HTP or 5 HTP 3

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS IN THIS ARTICLE?

"urinary neurotransmitter testing": Myths and Misconceptions

Read full text of "Myths" and find out how Myths is a myth.

This article was none peer reviewed marketing tool.

From the non-peer reviewed article above

Studies have demonstrated intact neurotransmitter transport out of the CNS, into the periphery, via blood-brain barrier transporters. Renal filtration of neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine) via specific transporters is well-documented. Researchers have provided examples of urinary neurotransmitter measurements that correlate with CNS tissue concentrations.

THE REAL SCIENCE BEHIND

neurotransmitter molecules (serotonin and dopamine), BLOOD BRAIN BARRIER AND KIDNEYS

Serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine do not cross the blood brain barrier. Systemic serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules are not filtered and excreted in the urine; the serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules synthesized by the kidneys are excreted into the urine.

Writings like the one above only serve to enhance the confusion over what is really happening. The research knowledge has grown exponentially over the last 15 years; don’t get stuck in the past. Articles like this only distract from the reality of what is occurring in the system.

The paragraphs above are from a 2007 non-peer reviewed article. It was written by two lab techs and the wife of one of the lab techs. It represents one of the few current articles attempting to assert that serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules cross the blood brain barrier.

The main problem with the article is that the assertions are an echo of the old way of understanding serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules. As reported in peer reviewed literature on the hyperlinks to the right, systemic serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules are filtered at the glomerulus and metabolized by the kidneys; very few systemic serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules make it into the final concentrated urine.

The monoamine serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules do not cross the blood brain barrier, nor are they transported across the blood brain barrier. In examining the references cited by the lab techs, it is clear that those references were misquoted and actually teach that monoamine serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules do not cross the blood brain barrier. In fact, while reviewing the full text references cited in the article, it is clear that information from these articles were pulled out of context; every literature reference cited was inaccurately portrayed in the non-peer reviewed research article.

Finally, the article above attempts to claim that serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules cross the blood brain barrier and are excreted in the urine. This false assertion leads to the statement that there is a correlation between central nervous system serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules and urinary serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitter molecules, which there is not.

Literature on the Subject

Serotonin BBB

Dopamine BBB

Norepinephrine BBB

Epinephrine BBB

Urine Serotonin 1

Urine Serotonin 2

Urine Serotonin 3

Urine Serotonin 4

Urine Serotonin 5

Urine Dopamine 1

Urine Dopamine 2