Long COVID and Serotonin

 

Some people who have been infected with COVID 19 may experience long term symptoms and be diagnosed with long COVID. According to the CDC people with long COVID can have a wide range of symptoms that can last weeks, months, or even years after infection. Symptoms can even go away and then return. Some symptoms include fatigue that affects daily life, cough, heart palpitations, sleep problems, headaches, depression, anxiety, diarrhea, joint or muscle pain, and rashes.

A recent study published in the journal Cell suggested that the reduction of serotonin in the gut was caused by remnants of the virus living in the gut, which is significant since 80-90% of serotonin is made in the gut. The authors suggest depleted serotonin levels may be the reason why there are memory problems and neurological and cognitive symptoms seen with long COIVD. Researchers found when the participants’ blood was analyzed right after being infected with COIVD there was a reduction in serotonin which usually occurs after an infection and then typically goes back to normal. In participants with long COVID, serotonin was the only molecule that remained depleted after infection. The researchers also found viral particles in the stool samples of patients with long COIVD. The viral remnants can cause the immune system to produce infection-fighting proteins called interferons which can lead to inflammation in the body and prevent the body from absorbing tryptophan which is an amino acid that helps the body produce serotonin. Although the study was small it may provide medical providers with ways to treat long COVID and the study suggested the use of anti-depressants such as Prozac and tryptophan may be potential options.

Whether you are struggling with symptoms of long COVID or not it is important for everyone to do things that improve the body’s production of serotonin since it is such an important neurotransmitter.  Eat foods that naturally contain tryptophan. Tryptophan is found in chicken, turkey, fish, and fruits such as bananas, apples, and prunes. As mentioned earlier tryptophan plays a role in the production of serotonin, a mood neurotransmitter that relaxes you. It also supports the natural production of melatonin. Because it’s an amino acid, your body can only get it from food.  Exercise daily, especially aerobic exercise such as walking, jogging, hiking, bike riding, and swimming. Exercise improves your body’s ability to produce serotonin indirectly. When you exercise, your gut-brain axis tells your body to release tryptophan into your bloodstream and decrease the amount of other amino acids, making it easier for tryptophan to reach the brain and put you in a better mood. Get some sunshine. Spending just 10 to 15 minutes outside every day, has shown to increase serotonin levels. Finally, eat foods rich in probiotics such as yogurt, kefir, certain cheeses, and sauerkraut. The bacterium in the gut helps produce serotonin. Studies have found that several species of gut bacteria are missing in people with depression, and that imbalances in gut flora can lead to mood imbalances. If you have been diagnosed with long COVID or simply want to make lifestyle changes to improve your health and serotonin production, we at Gut Instinct are here to guide you in making lasting changes to improve your health and vitality.

You may also watch this video for a short disucssion on this research study COVID and Serotonin

References

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects/index.html  

https://www.amymyersmd.com/article/serotonin-gut-health

Wong, A. C., Devason, A. S., Umana, I. C., Cox, T. O., Dohnalová, L., Litichevskiy, L., ... & Levy, M. (2023). Serotonin reduction in post-acute sequelae of viral infection. Cell.