NEUROTRANSMITTER BALANCE

 

The gut has been called the 'second brain' because of all the nerves and nervous tissue in the gastrointestinal tract.  When you get 'butterflies in your stomach,' this is a direct interaction between your nervous system and your digestive tract.  The health of your nervous system directly impacts the health and function of your GI tract.  

 

The brain and nervous system use signaling molecules to transmit messages from one place to another. The signaling molecules called monoamine neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine) are important for digestive health and brain function.  

 

The digestive system and brain must have the proper balance, and sufficient levels of these signaling molecules to be healthy and function normally.

 

VIRAL INFECTION AND IRRITABLE BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)

 

In almost every case of Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, there is an underlying infection.  Most of these infections go undiagnosed and untreated because they are rarely evaluated. 

 

The best way to see if there's an infection is through a comprehensive stool analysis that evaluates not only blood in the stool but also checks for the possible presence of over 60+ infectious microorganisms (harmful bacteria, fungus, parasites, and viruses). 

 

This type of stool analysis is rarely ordered by gastroenterologists.

 

THE GENETICS OF IRRITABLE BOWEL DISEASE (IBD)

 

Research has shown that some IBD patients have a genetic factor that impairs the transportation of nervous system chemicals from one place to another. The major chemicals affected are dopamine and serotonin.

 

If there is too much serotonin compared to dopamine in your gut, digestion and inflammation balance will be impaired. 

 

There is a known genetic defect of neurotransmitter transporters (OCTN1/OCTN2) in the gastrointestinal tract of IBD patients. (1) OCTN1 and OCTN2 are responsible for the transportation of dopamine and serotonin.

 

If these transporters are defective, serotonin levels are too high which causes serotonin toxicity, tissue damage, and the generation of symptoms. (2,3)

 

THE MICROBIOME COMPONENT TO IRRITABLE BOWEL DISEASE 

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The microbiome is the ecosystem inside our gut and body that directly influences digestion, metabolism, and immune system activity.  It is estimated that there are over 100 trillion bacteria living within us. 

 

This vibrant system, when strong, will kick out harmful infections and maintain a healthy immune response (when the gut environment is healthy, chronic inflammation cannot exist). 

 

If there is a disturbance in this ecosystem, we will be prone to increased infections as well as digestive problems.  Excessive use of antibiotics, poor diet, and exposure to chemicals in foods are the most predominant factors in destroying the health of the microbiome.  

 

In those with inflammatory bowel disease, the microbiome is extremely unhealthy.  There are either not enough 'good' bacteria and/or there are harmful or opportunistic bacteria or other microbes wreaking havoc. The body only initiates an inflammatory response to either repair tissue after an injury or to attack a foreign invader (like microbes).

 

CROHN'S, ULCERATIVE COLITIS AND SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION 

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The imbalance between serotonin and dopamine in the digestive system has been shown to be a primary cause of inflammation that leads to tissue destruction in the intestines. (4) The high serotonin level in the GI tract can initiate the inflammatory process and can perpetuate tissue damage.  

 

Therefore, unless this genetic defect is addressed and treated, the disease process will continue to progress.

 

It should be noted that people with IBD often have associated anxiety and/or depression symptoms.  This could be the result of the previously discussed imbalance between serotonin and dopamine, both of which are vital for mood, cognition, and general psychological health.