Tag: Tryptophan hydroxylase

Approximately 90% of the body's serotonin is produced in the gastrointestinal tract, not the brain. Serotonin is a chemical messenger crucial for regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and more. While the direct answer to "what protein produces serotonin?" isn't a single protein, the process is initiated by the essential amino acid tryptophan, a building block of many proteins.

Iron is vital for numerous biological processes, including brain function, and research has found a surprising link between brain iron levels and the neurotransmitter serotonin. This raises the question: does iron raise serotonin levels, or is the relationship more nuanced, potentially explaining some mood disorders?