Source: www.medical news today
One of my favourite neurotransmitters is dopamine; it fascinates me. How can one neurotransmitter be responsible for so many functions?
Thinking and learning ( cognitive functions)
Focus ( attention)
Strive
Finding things interesting (motivation)
Heart rate
Blood vessel function
Kidney function
Lactation
Sleep
Digestion
Control of nausea and vomiting
Pain processing movement
Libido (sexual drive)..... I will not be surprised if in future studies reveal that, dopamine is dominant in the hierarchy of neurotransmitters- wouldn't that be interesting?
How does dopamine influence GIT movement?
Dopamine is synthesized from tyrosine. This is why tyrosine hydroxylase presence in the GIT, indicates the presence of dopamine. (Eisenhofer, et.al, 1997)
According to Eisenhofer et.al, there is substantial production of dopamine in gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas.
This is a fact, that, dopamine is involved in digestion.
How?
Digestion starts from the mouth. Imagine if you had no saliva in the mouth! Dopamine stimulates the production of saliva, which helps the tongue roll the food in the mouth, as the teeth crushes it. Fascinating! Right!
Food is moved to the back of the mouth, down to the oesophagus, with the help of saliva; the swallowing reflex. In the stomach dopamine helps the production of gastric juice among them hydrochloric (HCL) acid which helps break down proteins. (Protein broken down become amino acids. Like tyrosine which is used to make dopamine, so dopamine is helping itself, to make more dopamine! How helpful!)
It also helps in maintaining a health mucosal line in the stomach, small and large intestines. This is how dopamine aids in digestion and therefore, GIT motility.
To keep your GIT healthy, it's important to know which foods you can consume. Tyrosine is an amino acids (a protein) found in:
Legumes
Nuts
Pork
Beef
Eggs
Avocadoes( there is some scientific debate )
Whole grains
Cocoa ( not drinking chocolate)
This information shouldn't be used as a meal plan. Your body needs more than dopamine. However, these foods can boost your overall health. Visit your Nutritionist/ Dietician for a full assessment of what your nutrition needs are.
Authored by: Patricia Kariuki Henry- Nutritionist
Reference
Eisenhofer G, Aneman A, Friberg P, Hooper D, Fåndriks L, Lonroth H, Hunyady B, Mezey E. Substantial production of dopamine in the human gastrointestinal tract. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1997 Nov;82(11):3864-71. doi: 10.1210/jcem.82.11.4339. PMID: 9360553.
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