Evidence supporting the use of: Seratonin
For the health condition: Worry
Synopsis
Source of validity: Scientific
Rating (out of 5): 4
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in mood regulation, anxiety, and overall emotional state. Scientific evidence supports the idea that low levels of serotonin are associated with increased anxiety and worry. Most of the support for using serotonin to treat worry comes not from supplementing serotonin directly (as serotonin itself does not cross the blood-brain barrier effectively) but from medications that increase serotonin activity in the brain, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications are widely prescribed for anxiety disorders and have been shown in numerous randomized controlled trials to reduce symptoms of chronic worry and generalized anxiety disorder. Thus, the rationale for targeting serotonin in the treatment of worry is well-established in neurobiology and psychiatry. However, direct supplementation with serotonin is not common or effective; rather, interventions focus on enhancing the activity or availability of serotonin in the brain. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as dietary precursors (like tryptophan), have weaker but some supporting evidence for mild effects. Overall, the scientific consensus strongly supports the role of serotonin in the neurobiology of worry and anxiety, and manipulating serotonin levels pharmacologically is a standard, evidence-based treatment for these conditions.
Other ingredients used for Worry
5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)ashwagandha
waterhyssop
benegut perilla (proprietary)
damiana
fennel
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
guayusa
kudzu
l-theanine
l-tyrosine
lavender
lion's mane
magnesium
motherwort
ophiopogon root
polygala root
relora® (proprietary)
vitamin B6
zinc
cardamom
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione
Albizia
Buddha's Hand
bacoside
Poppy