If you buy something through a link on this page, we may earn a small commission. How this works. Share on Pinterest What is serotonin? Serotonin is a chemical nerve cells produce. It sends signals between your nerve cells. Serotonin is found mostly in the digestive system, although it’s also in blood platelets and throughout the central nervous system. Serotonin is made from the essential amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid must enter your body through your diet and is commonly found in foods such as nuts, cheese, and red meat. Tryptophan deficiency can lead to lower serotonin levels. This can result in mood disorders, such as anxiety or depression.

What does serotonin do? Serotonin impacts every part of your body, from your emotions to your motor skills. Serotonin is considered a natural mood stabilizer. It’s the chemical that helps with sleeping, eating, and digesting. Serotonin also helps: reduce depression

regulate anxiety

heal wounds

stimulate nausea

maintain bone health Here’s how serotonin acts in various functions across your body: Bowel movements: Serotonin is found primarily in the body’s stomach and intestines. It helps control your bowel movements and function. Mood: Serotonin in the brain is thought to regulate anxiety, happiness, and mood. Low levels of the chemical have been associated with depression, and increased serotonin levels brought on by medication are thought to decrease arousal. Nausea: Serotonin is part of the reason why you become nauseated. Production of serotonin rises to push out noxious or upsetting food more quickly in diarrhea. The chemical also increases in the blood, which stimulates the part of the brain that controls nausea. Sleep: This chemical is responsible for stimulating the parts of the brain that control sleep and waking. Whether you sleep or wake depends on what area is stimulated and which serotonin receptor is used. Blood clotting: Blood platelets release serotonin to help heal wounds. The serotonin causes tiny arteries to narrow, helping form blood clots. Bone health: Serotonin plays a role in bone health. Significantly high levels of serotonin in the bones can lead to osteoporosis, which makes the bones weaker. Sexual function: Low levels of serotonin are associated with increased libido, while increased serotonin levels are associated with reduced libido. IBS and serotonin: The brain-stomach link »

Serotonin and mental health Serotonin helps regulate your mood naturally. When your serotonin levels are normal, you feel: happier

calmer

more focused

less anxious

more emotionally stable A 2007 study found that people with depression often have low levels of serotonin. Serotonin deficiency has also been linked to anxiety and insomnia. Minor disagreements about the role serotonin plays in mental health have occurred. Some researchers in older studies have questioned whether an increase or decrease in serotonin can affect depression. Newer research claims it does. For example, a 2016 animal study examined mice lacking serotonin autoreceptors that inhibited serotonin secretion. Without these autoreceptors, the mice had higher levels of serotonin available in their brains. Researchers found these mice exhibited less anxiety and depression-related behaviors. Alcohol and anxiety »

Normal ranges for serotonin levels Generally, the normal range for serotonin levels in your blood is 101–283 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). This benchmark, however, may differ slightly depending on the measurements and samples tested, so talk to your doctor about specific test results. High levels of serotonin may be a sign of carcinoid syndrome. This involves a group of symptoms related to tumors of the: small intestine

appendix

colon

bronchial tubes A doctor will take a blood test to measure serotonin levels in your blood to diagnose the disease or rule it out.

About serotonin syndrome Drugs that cause your serotonin levels to climb and collect in your body can lead to serotonin syndrome. The syndrome can typically occur after you start taking a new drug or increase the dosage of an existing medication. The symptoms of serotonin syndrome include: shivering

diarrhea

headache

confusion

dilated pupils

goose bumps Severe symptoms can include: twitching muscles

a loss of muscle agility

muscle stiffness

high fever

rapid heart rate

high blood pressure

irregular heartbeat

seizures There aren’t any tests that can diagnose serotonin syndrome. Instead, your doctor will perform a physical exam to determine if you have it. Often, serotonin syndrome symptoms will disappear within a day if you take medication that blocks serotonin or replace the drug that’s causing the condition in the first place. Serotonin syndrome can be life-threatening if left untreated.