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Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

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Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#31

Post by Podgajski »

ofjcihen wrote: post #29
RohMin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While most of the body’s serotonin is indeed in the gut, the serotonin that impacts our mood, sleep, and other cognitive functions is exclusively produced and used in the brain.

Was going to say this. My one gripe with HN is that people say incorrect things with complete confidence pretty regularly and you can only Detect it if you know the subject matter.

And I’m going to add, confidently, that low serotonin is just a marker and not a cause.

Any type of inflammation will cause tryptophan to be pushed down an alternative pathway instead of going to make serotonin.

Also, it’s very possible that low zinc after Covid would cause the lack of serotonin as well.

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#32

Post by thenerdhead »

For people who are obviously ignorant of long covid in this thread, go read these publications and watch these videos:

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3...

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41590-023-01601-2

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06651-y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z189Z7tS1w4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYNMzaZk_iU

The researchers here have a specific hypothesis:

> Our animal models demonstrate that serotonin levels can be restored and memory impairment reversed by precursor supplementation or SSRI treatment. While the effectiveness of SSRIs in acute COVID-19 has been a subject of debate,69,70,71,72,73,74 no systematic exploration of SSRIs in individuals with PASC has been performed to date. Our study, together with recent findings linking depression with cognitive impairment in Long COVID75 and the effect of SSRIs on vagus nerve activity,67 call for the assessment of targeting serotonin signaling for the prevention or treatment of neurocognitive manifestations.

https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(23)01034-6

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#33

Post by jinder »

RohMin wrote: post #20
francisofascii wrote: post #5

My gut reaction (pun intended) or guess on what causes Long Covid is a viral reservoir, possibly in the gut, that the immune system cannot fully clear. Low serotonin is then a downstream effect from the chronic stress on the body. Approx. 90% of serotonin found in the human body is located in the (GI) tract. So people and doctors will throw SSRIs at the problem, and maybe that will relieve some symptoms, but will not…

While most of the body’s serotonin is indeed in the gut, the serotonin that impacts our mood, sleep, and other cognitive functions is exclusively produced and used in the brain.

While the serotonin used in your gut doesn’t directly impact the brain, it does impact the enteric nervous system which communicates via the vagus nerve to your brain. So I don’t think it’s correct to say this doesn’t (or couldn’t) impact your mood (and indeed murine experiments demonstrate it does).

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#34

Post by Podgajski »

mg wrote: post #27

I'm surprised there is no randomized controlled trial of the effect of Vitamin D on Long Covid. When I browse through Pubmed and read studies (a/b-tests) of Vitamin D intake and respiratory tract infections (including Covid), many large studies found a positive effect.

You shouldn’t be surprised at this at all. There is zero profit motive for the amount of money it would take to do a vitamin D trial since no one can patent vitamin D.

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#35

Post by BjoernKW »

francisofascii wrote: post #5

My gut reaction (pun intended) or guess on what causes Long Covid is a viral reservoir, possibly in the gut, that the immune system cannot fully clear. Low serotonin is then a downstream effect from the chronic stress on the body. Approx. 90% of serotonin found in the human body is located in the (GI) tract. So people and doctors will throw SSRIs at the problem, and maybe that will relieve some symptoms, but will not…

> [...] is a viral reservoir, possibly in the gut

In that case, a gastrointestinal lavage (as applied before a colonoscopy) could be a potential remedy. It's a long shot, but since the process doesn't have any side effects (other than the inconvenience of having to change your diet for a few days), it'd be worth a try.

> So people and doctors will throw SSRIs at the problem, and maybe that will relieve some symptoms, but will not address the fundamental cause.

Additionally, SSRIs cause severe - and in many cases permanent - side effects. What's worse, we don't even really know how SSRIs work - or if at all (at least, as intended). Nevertheless, they're handed out like sweets.

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#36

Post by hotdogscout »

xkbarkar wrote: post #12
minsight wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not necessarily the best or the latest evidence... See: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41579-022-00846-2

Sigh, That's not a study that's an article reviewing other cherry picked articles. It doesn't really mean all that much tbh. You would have to review what this review is reviewing. Long covid is still not properly defined and is more of a blanket term of feeling like shit after virus infection List includes https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/long-term-effects-of-... * extreme tiredness (fatigue) * feeling short o…

I've got 3 friends with brain fog symptoms after 3 years of a COVID infection.

I myself take 6 months to have my brain work like before after contact with someone with COVID.

Wym "maybe long covid is a thing"? Didn't the deaths show the response to COVID is extremely varied already? I'm happy you didn't have it but I bet you know someone that does.

I agree Nature is admittedly dodgy to the left if the issue is political (climate change models, the infamous proximal Origins) but I honestly don't see long COVID being one.

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#38

Post by thenerdhead »

francisofascii wrote: post #5

My gut reaction (pun intended) or guess on what causes Long Covid is a viral reservoir, possibly in the gut, that the immune system cannot fully clear. Low serotonin is then a downstream effect from the chronic stress on the body. Approx. 90% of serotonin found in the human body is located in the (GI) tract. So people and doctors will throw SSRIs at the problem, and maybe that will relieve some symptoms, but will not…

Yes, this is very clear with recent evidence.

We still need to understand the gut brain connection and why trials like prozac or precursor supplementation helps.

It is already inconclusive that SSRIs help acute covid, but no studies have been done for long covid. That's what the researchers are calling out here.

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#39

Post by francisofascii »

ofjcihen wrote: post #29
RohMin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

While most of the body’s serotonin is indeed in the gut, the serotonin that impacts our mood, sleep, and other cognitive functions is exclusively produced and used in the brain.

Was going to say this. My one gripe with HN is that people say incorrect things with complete confidence pretty regularly and you can only Detect it if you know the subject matter.

Forgive me, because I don't want to pretend I understand this. No one does. It is still a mystery. This is just a "guess" based on what I've read and experienced first hand. Also, isn't the brain/gut/nervous system all connected anyway. What makes you think only the serotonin in the brain affects mood?

Re: Low serotonin levels might explain some Long Covid symptoms, study proposes

#40

Post by wahnfrieden »

saiya-jin wrote: post #11
AndrewDucker wrote: post #7

Considering Covid can cause brain cells to fuse together causing cognitive impairment, that seems a more likely cause of issues: https://nitter.net/_CatintheHat/status/1668577909836075008

I've heard this, that and also blood clots forming in the brain. Maybe much more, we will see in upcoming years. Nasty disease

Why do we now treat it like regular flu then?
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