The gut is something I work with extensively in my practice for several reasons. A healthy gut is the foundation for a strong and efficient immune system, but it’s also the source of a very important neurotransmitter called serotonin. Some estimates say up to 95% of the serotonin our body produces comes from our GI tract, not the brain. Serotonin is important because it helps regulate our mood and our ability to sleep.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as Prozac and Lexapro are prescribed to treat depression, anxiety, and many other issues, however, they don’t address the root cause of the problem. SSRIs are designed to increase the amount of serotonin in the brain but the question is, why is the body not producing enough serotonin in the first place? The main purpose of functional medicine is to get to the root cause of the issue(s) people are facing and not cover to simply cover it up. By not addressing the health of the GI tract, specifically the gut, the client will be at a disadvantage.

As Dr. Grisanti points out in this article, insomnia can be caused by a lack of an amino acid called tryptophan, which is the building block of serotonin. When it comes to serotonin, you don’t correct a deficiency by giving the body more serotonin, instead you help the client by working with the gut first and foremost so the body can produce this important neurotransmitter on its own. Dr. Gristanti said it best, “If the gut isn’t healthy, then you are going nowhere. If you have gas, bloating, alternating diarrhea or constipation or other gut issues than your chances of solving your insomnia problem may be futile until you fix your gut.”

Contact me if you are in need of help with anxiety, depression, or sleep issues from a functional wellness approach and we will get you on the path to wellness. Thanks for reading!

 

Insomnia Solution

Ronald Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O., D.A.C.B.N., M.S.

If you suffer from insomnia then you understand the seriousness of simply not getting a good night’s sleep. Your whole world around you appears to crumble when you can’t get a good 6-8 hours of quality deep REM sleep. Your work life, your family life all suffer.

Today’s article will touch on a few “key” things to consider to solve insomnia.

To begin remember that the awakening after a few hours of sleep and not being able to get back to sleep is often rebound from what you ate or drank hours before. High sugar, alcohol, highly spiced foods and of course, caffeinated drinks are often the culprits.

If you are unknowingly deficient in chromium, vanadium, manganese and other nutrients you can experience hypoglycemic rebound in a few hours where you abruptly wake-up and are unable to drift back to sleep.

Let’s now consider something called the “happy hormones” that lead to a restful sleep.

One of these hormones is serotonin, which anti-depressants like Prozac work on.

We make serotonin from the amino acid tryptophan.

Unfortunately as we age or faced with an overload of stress the level of serotonin suffers.

Dozens of studies show that low tryptophan levels lead to insomnia, awakening feeling unrested, inability to stay asleep after getting there, and just lying there all night watching the clock.

For over a quarter of a century literally dozens of studies have proven this amino produces a great sleep in many, and with no side effects or hangover. In fact, folks have better mental clarity during the day. Furthermore, it improves daytime depression, PMS, fibromyalgia, and anxiety as well as carbohydrate cravings, binge-eating and even alcohol recovery.

Now from a functional medicine position it is important to know that a simple B6 or zinc deficiency can contribute to insomnia. A common vitamin B6 deficiency can keep you awake all night, or low zinc causing impaired conversion of B6, which is needed to make tryptophan work.

If you have an elevated organic acid, kynurenate acid, for example, and a low tryptophan, the correction of B6 may be all you need.

Now don’t forget plasticizers in our bodies lower zinc which is needed in the enzyme to convert B6 to its active form so it can then transform tryptophan to a serotonin.

I am disappointed with the number of people suffering with insomnia who could be helped if only their physician understood the significance of nutritional biochemistry.

It comes down to finding the cause of the cause.

Remember that as important as serotonin is for sleep and moods, most of serotonin is not made in the brain.

Ninety five percent of serotonin is made in the gut.

If the gut isn’t healthy, then you are going nowhere. If you have gas, bloating, alternating diarrhea or constipation or other gut issues than your chances of solving your insomnia problem may be futile until you fix your gut.

The secret is to find a doctor who understands the probable underlying causes of insomnia and knows how to do the proper testing to discover what needs to be fixed.

It really can be as simple as that.

References

Schmidt HS, L-tryptophan in the treatment of impaired respiration in sleep, Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir, 19; 6:625-9, 1983

Demisch K, et al, Treatment of severe chronic insomnia with Ltryptophan: results of a double-blind cross-over study, Pharmocopsychiatry, 20; 6:242-4, 1987

Hartmann E, Effects of L-tryptophan on sleepiness and on sleep, J Psychiatr Res, 17; 2:1-7-13, 1982

Ashley DV, et al, Evidence for diminished brain 5-hydroxytrptamine biosynthesis in obese diabetic and non-diabetic humans, Am J Clin Nutr, 42; 6:1240-5, 1985

Riemann D, et al, The tryptophan depletion test: impact on sleep in primary insomnia – a pilot study, Psychiatry Res, 109; 2:129-35, 2002

Schneider-Helmert D, et al, Evaluation of L-tryptophan for treatment of insomnia: a review, Psychopharmacol (Berl), 89; 1:1-7, 1986

The information on this website is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. It is intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from the research and experience of Dr. Grisanti and his community. Dr. Grisanti encourages you to make your own health care decisions based upon your research and in partnership with a qualified health care professional. Visit www.FunctionalMedicineUniversity.com to find practitioners thoroughly trained in functional medicine. Look for practitioners who have successfully completed the Functional Medicine University’s Certification Program (CFMP).

Courtesy of Functional Medicine University