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Review
. 2018 May 10;10(5):591.
doi: 10.3390/nu10050591.

Dietary Neurotransmitters: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge

Matteo Briguglio  1 , Bernardo Dell'Osso  2   3 , Giancarlo Panzica  4 , Antonio Malgaroli  5 , Giuseppe Banfi  6 , Carlotta Zanaboni Dina  7 , Roberta Galentino  8 , Mauro Porta  9
Affiliations
Free PMC article
Review

Dietary Neurotransmitters: A Narrative Review on Current Knowledge

Matteo Briguglio et al. Nutrients. .
Free PMC article

Abstract

Foods are natural sources of substances that may exert crucial effects on the nervous system in humans. Some of these substances are the neurotransmitters (NTs) acetylcholine (ACh), the modified amino acids glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the biogenic amines dopamine, serotonin (5-HT), and histamine. In neuropsychiatry, progressive integration of dietary approaches in clinical routine made it necessary to discern the more about some of these dietary NTs. Relevant books and literature from PubMed and Scopus databases were searched for data on food sources of Ach, glutamate, GABA, dopamine, 5-HT, and histamine. Different animal foods, fruits, edible plants, roots, and botanicals were reported to contain NTs. These substances can either be naturally present, as part of essential metabolic processes and ecological interactions, or derive from controlled/uncontrolled food technology processes. Ripening time, methods of preservation and cooking, and microbial activity further contributes to NTs. Moreover, gut microbiota are considerable sources of NTs. However, the significance of dietary NTs intake needs to be further investigated as there are no significant data on their bioavailability, neuronal/non neuronal effects, or clinical implications. Evidence-based interventions studies should be encouraged.

Keywords: acetylcholine; diet, food, and nutrition; dopamine; functional foods; gamma-aminobutyric acid; glutamate; gut microbiota; histamine; neurotransmitters; serotonin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The dietary sources of acetylcholine.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The dietary sources of glutamate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The dietary sources of GABA.
Figure 4
Figure 4
The dietary sources of dopamine.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The dietary sources of serotonin.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The dietary sources of histamine.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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