Research suggests that niacinamide participates in the serotonin -
producing kynurenine pathway and stimulates GABA receptors to help reduce nervous tension and support a calm and relaxed mood.
Gene expression analysis of the animals» skeletal muscles led to another clue: differences in
the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation.
The study is a nice and succinct amalgamation of data from humans showing that endurance exercise produces a shift in
the kynurenine pathway, resulting in more kynurenic acid (KYNA) and...
«The vast majority of GI tryptophan is not utilized for serotonin production, but rather metabolized via
the kynurenine pathway.
Stress and inflammation divert tryptophan down an alternate pathway (known as
the kynurenine pathway) which does not make 5 - HTP, and produces kynurenine instead of serotonin as an end product.
The rest of the tryptophan, or about 95 % goes down
the kynurenine pathway.
Certain factors such as high cortisol or high estrogen can shunt tryptophan AWAY from serotonin and thus melatonin and 5HIAA towards
the kynurenine pathway.
Alterations of
the kynurenine pathway have been assessed in PD (as well as other neurodegenerative diseases).