457 | id == 457
457 | category_id == 27
457 | category_order == 24
457 | category_name == Fatigue
457 | category_color == #C47AC0
457 | slug == HTR2A-fatigue
457 | title == The Role of Serotonin in CFS & Fibromyalgia (HTR2A)
457 | meta_description == HTR2A encodes a type of serotonin receptor that can decrease serotonin signalling. What is its role in CFS & fibromyalgia?
457 | summary == <p><strong><em>HTR2A </em>encodes a type of serotonin receptor that can actually decrease serotonin signalling. What is its role in CFS &amp; fibromyalgia? Find out here.</strong></p>
457 | overall_score_text == Your Fatigue Score (based on HTR2A)
457 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/HTR2A-Chronic-fatigue-Fibromyalgia.jpg
457 | author_id == 1
457 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
457 | author_title == BSc, BEd
457 | author_order == 36
457 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
457 | author_intro == <p><strong>Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.</strong></p>    <p>Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.</p>
457 | reviewer == None
457 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
457 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
457 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
457 | publish_date == 2020
457 | publish_date == 11
457 | publish_date == 4
457 | avg_rating == 5.0
457 | tags_id == 904
457 | tags_name == Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
457 | tags_id == 68
457 | tags_name == Fatigue
457 | tags_id == 7
457 | tags_name == Fibromyalgia
457 | tags_id == 672
457 | tags_name == HTR2A gene
457 | tags_id == 309
457 | tags_name == Serotonin
457 | tags_id == 50
457 | tags_name == Stress
457 | tags_id == 232
457 | tags_name == Vitamin D
457 | permissions_favorite == False
457 | permissions_rate == False
457 | content_article == <h2><strong>Summary</strong></h2> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes one type of serotonin receptor. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A </span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia by reducing available serotonin. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by supporting serotonin signalling.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>HTR2A</em></strong><strong> and Fatigue Disorders</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The </span><a href="https://selfdecode.com/blog/article/dating-success-genes-5"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">gene helps produce a </span><a href="https://www.selfhacked.com/blog/how-to-increase-serotonin"><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> receptor, 5HT2A [</span><a href="https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/HTR2A"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serotonin plays an important role in the brain, where its main job is to transmit messages between nerve cells. According to some scientific theories, serotonin&mdash;which is sometimes known as the &ldquo;happiness hormone&rdquo;&mdash;is involved in all aspects of human behavior [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4921409/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5864293/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">5HT2A receptors are commonly found in brain cells, as well as in other parts of the body including platelets, the heart, joints, immune cells (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/monocytes/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">monocytes</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/28-ways-to-stimulate-your-vagus-nerve-and-all-you-need-to-know-about-it/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vagus nerve</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&amp;pid=S0100-879X2011000300008"><span style="font-weight: 400;">2</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5-HT2A_receptor"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> 3</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">serotonin</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> receptors are found throughout the brain, but studies suggest that they are concentrated in the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus &mdash; areas implicated in learning, memory, and overall cognitive ability [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25739427"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15115744"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10216183"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17635672"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23591691"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some researchers hypothesize that 5HT2A receptors decrease with age. The activity of these receptors may also follow the </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/what-it-means-to-keep-to-a-circadian-rhythm/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">circadian rhythm</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, becoming more or less active during certain parts of the sleep-wake cycle [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8888376"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Serotonin and its receptors have been implicated in the development of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia. People with these conditions may have a higher than normal concentration of one type of 5HT2A receptor (postsynaptic receptors) that actually reduces serotonin signaling overall [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18079067/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3044825/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">One variant in the </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">HTR2A</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene has been associated with higher rates of both CFS and fibromyalgia. Unsurprisingly, this variant probably increases postsynaptic 5HT2A receptor concentration and decreases overall serotonin signalling [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21120487/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18079067/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Serotonin, an important neurotransmitter for all aspects of human behaviour, plays an important role in the sleep-wake cycle. A dysfunctional serotonin system may contribute to chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia.</span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>HTR2A</em></strong><strong> Results for Fatigue Disorders</strong></h2> <p>*4052246470201635*</p> <p><strong>HTR2A </strong><a href="http://selfdecode.com/snp/rs6313"><strong>rs6313</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21120487/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">]</span></p> <ul> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;G&rsquo; = Associated with increased rates of fatigue disorders (CFS and fibromyalgia)</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Possibly protective against fatigue disorders (CFS and fibromyalgia)</span></li> </ul> <p>*6634217300918877*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Improving Fatigue</strong></h2> <p>*1159247265826839*</p> <h3><strong>Stress Management</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Genetic variants of the HTR2A gene may impair BDNF levels in the brain, causing an increase in cortisol and anxiety as a result. Cortisol, in turn, appears to decrease serotonin signalling [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12467107"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/63-factors-raising-stress-cortisol-level-backed-science/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and fatigue are closely and reciprocally linked, meaning they often co-occur and can influence each other. Stressful life events may cause not only </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/ptsd-causes-treatments/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">PTSD</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, but also </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-real-heres-test/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue syndrome</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Similarly, occupational exposure to traumatic events of others (e.g., by healthcare workers) causes physical and mental fatigue, and may reduce empathy [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26143479/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24630177/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19812026/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3894419/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28119163/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for stress management has been reported to reduce fatigue from </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/my-cutting-edge-protocol-to-cure-fatigue/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> syndrome, fibromyalgia, and </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/causes-symptoms-diagnosis-risk-factors-of-multiple-sclerosis/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">multiple sclerosis</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> in several studies. Similarly, its combination with mindfulness </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/meditation/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">meditation</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (mindfulness-based stress reduction) may help with fatigue from fibromyalgia and cancer [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7028002/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28984402/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27772557/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6719827/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31927347/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Relaxation therapy with breathing practices and muscle relaxation exercises has also been reported to help with fatigue from conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple sclerosis, cancer, heart failure, and stem cell transplantation. However, CBT was more effective in those studies that compared both treatments [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9054791/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11729022/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22967281/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15338385/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12719750/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20492052/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17057393/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17383494/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15656848/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Psychological stress releases cortisol in the brain, which in turn may decrease serotonin signalling.</span></p> <h3><strong>5-HTP</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In the body, serotonin is made from 5-hydroxytryptophan (</span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/5-htp-serotonin-depression-risks-benefits/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">5-HTP</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">), and 5-HTP is made from </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/tryptophan-health-benefits-tryptophan-deficiency/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">L-tryptophan</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Therefore, increasing the levels of either of these &ldquo;building blocks&rdquo; (metabolic precursors) can, in theory, lead to increased overall levels of serotonin [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3415362/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Limited research suggests that taking L-tryptophan may raise plasma serotonin, and may improve certain cognitive, motor, or gut issues in those who are deficient [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26560523"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19715722"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a small clinical trial of people suffering from fibromyalgia, supplementation with 5-HTP improved fatigue and other symptoms of the condition in half of the patients [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1521674/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">5-HTP is one of the major building blocks of serotonin, and supplementing with it may improve the symptoms of fibromyalgia.</span></p> <h3><strong>Vitamin D</strong></h3> <p><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> helps the body make, release, and use serotonin, including in the brain by activating an enzyme that converts tryptophan into serotonin. If vitamin D levels are low, our brains make less serotonin. Thus, increasing vitamin D intake may increase serotonin levels, thereby potentially supporting mental health [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24558199"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25713056"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Many studies have associated </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/35proven-health-benefits-vitamin-d-part-1/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">vitamin D</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> deficiency with fatigue and muscle weakness, although not all people with this deficiency experience these symptoms [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442332/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19835345"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17634462/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22020957/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Unsurprisingly, correcting vitamin D deficiency with supplements improved fatigue in both healthy people and those with various diseases [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5207540/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25210673/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4182952/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4158648/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6513642/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400; background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;">Vitamin D is required for the body to produce serotonin, and vitamin D deficiency has been linked with fatigue and muscle weakness.</span></p>
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457 | content_learn_more_6634217300918877_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your HTR2A gene is somewhat associated with fatigue disorders. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia; it’s just one gene related to it. Stress management, 5-HTP, and vitamin D may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs6313
rsStatus = rs6313,HTR2A,chr13,46895805,G,A,C,,25,0,Normal
