Author Question: What two common ingredients found in food are used as precursors for the formation of ... (Read 76 times)

craiczarry · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

What two common ingredients found in food are used as precursors for the formation of neurotransmitters?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Suppose that a person wants to increase their brain levels of serotonin, so they take a pill containing the amino acid tryptophan, which is the precursor for serotonin production.

Explain why this may or may not actually change the person's brain levels of serotonin.
What will be an ideal response?

jennafosdick · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Glucose and amino acids (obtained in proteins)

Answer to Question 2

Because of competition among all the amino acids contained in proteins for the active transport systems that allow penetration of the amino acids into the brain, it is unlikely that adding tryptophan will have much influence of serotonin levels in the brain.