NVS Health Flashcards
What factors affect the NVS
“Lifestyle - environment and how we react to it , early experience, self esteem and belonging
Nerve cell structure and function - EFA’s, phospholipids, mins, removal of toxins
Hormonal and immune factors - oest, test, thyroxine, cortisol, cytokines
Energy - relies on steady supply of glucose or ketones
GI health - the second brain”
What is the NVS composed of and what does it do?
Composed of CNS and Peripheral NS. Includes neurons & NT’s. Controls and regulates movement, sensation, perception, language, learning and memory
What is the Gut Brain Axis?
Bidirectional communication of the central and enteric NVS via the vagus nervous. Vagus nerve contains 80% afferent (sensory) nerves and 20% efferent (motor) nerves. Gut microbiome play a role in the health of this axis - dysbiosis can = nervous and mental health disorders
How do the microbes of the GBA interact?
“Modulation of NT production e.g seretonin
Bacterial metabolites e.g SCFA support intestinal barrier, mucosal seretonin release and influence memory and learning
Modulation of afferent sensory nerves e.g neuronal excitability, gut motility and pain perception
BDNF production - and function in the CNS”
What role does gut barrier function play in the GBA
Diet induced dysbiosis can lead to comprimised mucus layer which can cause interaction between gut microbes and the immune system causing inflammation and increased permeability of the tight junctions. This can lead to metabolic endotoxaemia which causes immune activation of different organs including the brain. Elevated LPS are associated with neruroinflammation and conditions such as depression
What key factors influence NVS function
“Inflammation & oxidative stress, toxic load: Gut permeability, heavy metals, environmental toxins, obesity, glycaemic load, ageing, nutritional factors
Decreased expression of neurotropic factors (BDNF & NGF)
Mitochondrial changes: relates to oxidative stress and inflamm, nut deficiency, ageing”
What are neurotransmitters? How are they synthesized and methylated?
“Chemical messengers released from the pre-synamptic terminal which cause either an ihibitory or excitatory effect on the post-synaptic cell.
Synthesised from specific substrate (AA) and cofactor (B6 etc)
Methylation uses: Methyfolate for Biopterin (Ser & Dope) & SAMe (5MTHF & B12) for melatonin & dopamine”
Describe NT balance
NT need to be inactivated and removed via enzyme breakdown, diffusion or reabsorption. Reuptake is an important mechanism. Key enzymes are MAO (Ser, Adr, Nor, Dope) and COMT (Adr, Nor, Dope)
What is Serotonin and where is it produced, which elements XBBB?
5-HT a monoamine NT produced from tryptophan. Produced by enterochromaffin cells and bacteria in the GIT (95%) and CNS. 5HTP and Tryptophan XBBB
What is the 5-HT pathway?
Tryptophan - 5HTP - 5-HT (seretonin) - N-Aceytlserotonin - Melatonin
What are key cofactors in the 5-HT pathway?
B2, B3, Methylfolate, B5, B6, Mg, Zn, Fe, Vit C, Vit D3, Aceytl COA, SAMe
What is 5-HT functions?
GI signaling (motility, epithelial secretions), mood, appetite, sleep, blood clotting
What metabolite of 5-HT can be tested on an OAT?
5-HIAA
What are causes and risk factors for low serotonin?
“Insufficient nutrient cofactors - tryptophan and cofactors B6, B3, methylfolate, Zn etc
Chronic stress - prolonged ACTH and cortisol secretion can affect the integrity of 5-HT receptors reducing uptake - outlook, sense of purpose, financial problems etc
GI dysbiosis can impact tryptophan metabolism and gut serotonin production which can impact brain serotonin
Poor digestive health, Lack of sunlight, sedentary, caffeine, long term alcohol use, statin use
Heavy metals
Sex hormone imbalance (oest)”
What is the tryptophan steal?
Tryptophan can be shunted to produce NAD+ instead of serotonin via kynurenine pathway. This is proinflam and produced quinolinic acid which is an excitotoxin (increases glutamate) which can cause cell death and is linked to mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases.
