467 | id == 467
467 | category_id == 27
467 | category_order == 24
467 | category_name == Fatigue
467 | category_color == #C47AC0
467 | slug == SLC6A4-fatigue
467 | title == Can Disrupted Serotonin Signalling Cause Fatigue? (SLC6A4)
467 | meta_description == SLC6A4 encodes a serotonin transporter that changes the length and strength of serotonin signals. Do you have risk alleles?
467 | summary == <p><strong><em>SLC6A4 </em>encodes a serotonin transporter that changes the length and strength of serotonin signals. Do you have risk alleles? Find out here.</strong></p>
467 | overall_score_text == Your Fatigue Score (based on SLC6A4)
467 | image == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/background/SLC6A4-Chronic-fatigue-syndrome.jpg
467 | author_id == 1
467 | author_name == Jasmine Foster
467 | author_title == BSc, BEd
467 | author_order == 36
467 | author_photo == https://sd-selfdecode-assets-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/blog/author-photo/Jasmine.jpg
467 | 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>
467 | reviewer == None
467 | medical_reviewer_id == 11
467 | medical_reviewer_name == Puya Yazdi
467 | medical_reviewer_title == MD
467 | publish_date == 2020
467 | publish_date == 11
467 | publish_date == 9
467 | avg_rating == 5.0
467 | tags_id == 904
467 | tags_name == Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
467 | tags_id == 68
467 | tags_name == Fatigue
467 | tags_id == 309
467 | tags_name == Serotonin
467 | tags_id == 914
467 | tags_name == SLC6A4 Gene
467 | tags_id == 915
467 | tags_name == SSRIs
467 | tags_id == 50
467 | tags_name == Stress
467 | permissions_favorite == False
467 | permissions_rate == False
467 | content_article == <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a serotonin transporter protein. Variants of </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> may play a role in fatigue by changing how much serotonin stays in the space between cells. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by stabilizing and supporting the serotonin signalling system.</span></p> <h2><strong><em>SLC6A4</em></strong><strong> and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/SLC6A4/"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">encodes 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;"> transporter protein. Once serotonin has been released by brain cells, SLC6A4 becomes active and moves the serotonin back into those cells. In this way, SLC6A4 reduces the length of serotonin signals [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/6532"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3487694/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This gene has mainly been associated with how a person responds to antidepressants like citalopram [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Citalopram is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), meaning that it works by keeping serotonin in the space between brain cells for longer before it moves back into the cell. In other words, it prevents the &ldquo;reuptake&rdquo; of the serotonin into the brain cell that released it. Since SLC6A4 is part of the serotonin reuptake mechanism, it makes sense that it may affect how well a drug like citalopram works [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482222/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2660379/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Impaired </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> gene function correlates with </span><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/my-cutting-edge-protocol-to-cure-fatigue/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">chronic fatigue syndrome</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (CFS). Some research suggests that <em>SLC6A4</em> variants may increase the brain&rsquo;s sensitivity to certain environmental changes; people with these variants are more likely to become anxious, but also respond more positively to good things happening [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140883"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2014/842349/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, while people with altered SLC6A4 function may develop CFS at higher rates, they may also respond more positively to certain management strategies [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140883"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2014/842349/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> encodes a serotonin transporter that changes the length and strength of serotonin signals. Variants in this gene have been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome and response to some medications.</span></span></p> <h2><strong>Your </strong><strong><em>SLC6A4</em></strong><strong> Results for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome</strong></h2> <p>*2808543901610503*</p> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/SLC6A4/"><strong><em>SLC6A4</em></strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs2066713/"><strong>rs2066713</strong></a> <span style="font-weight: 400;">[</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><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 higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;A&rsquo; = Possibly protective against chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;G&rsquo; allele may increase the brain&rsquo;s sensitivity to both good and bad environmental changes [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140883"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2014/842349/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p><a href="https://selfdecode.com/gene/SLC6A4/"><strong><em>SLC6A4</em></strong></a> <a href="https://selfdecode.com/snp/rs140701/"><strong>rs140701</strong></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> [</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25826379/"><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;C&rsquo; = Not associated with chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">&lsquo;T&rsquo; = Associated with higher rates of chronic fatigue syndrome</span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The &lsquo;T&rsquo; allele may increase the brain&rsquo;s sensitivity to both good and bad environmental changes [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140883"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2014/842349/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></li> </ul> <p>*9886773446755814*</p> <h2><strong>Recommendations for Increasing Energy Levels</strong></h2> <p>*3145576064282571*</p> <h3><strong>Stress Management</strong></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Stress causes the release of the stress hormone cortisol which, in turn, appears to change the brain&rsquo;s sensitivity to serotonin signaling [</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><span style="font-weight: 400;">People with </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">SLC6A4</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> variants are more sensitive to stress, but also more likely to benefit from positive experiences. Thus, stress management strategies are essential for managing CFS [</span><a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0140883"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/crips/2014/842349/"><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 can 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 signaling.</span></p> <h3><strong>Exercise</strong></h3> <p><strong><a href="https://selfhacked.com/blog/top-14-proven-health-benefits-exercise-references-mechanisms/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Exercise</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> has the potential to relieve stress, in part by balancing serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain [<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11148895/">R</a>].</span></strong></p> <p><strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">A sedentary lifestyle is a common cause of persistent fatigue. In many clinical studies, exercise boosted energy levels in people with chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer, arthritis, and more [</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6419524/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5026555/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6168432/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6937526/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32452880/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20091552/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">,</span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16713337/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">R</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">].</span></strong></p> <p><span style="background-color: #e8ebfc; border-left: 2px solid #4569fa; display: block; padding: 20px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Practice regular moderate-intensity </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">exercise</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and avoid a sedentary lifestyle to lessen the impact of your variants on fatigue.</span></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. Thus, sufficient vitamin D intake can help balance serotonin in the brain [</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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467 | content_learn_more_9886773446755814_text == Based on the variants we looked at, your SLC6A4 gene is somewhat associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. However, this doesn't necessarily reflect your overall risk of fatigue; it’s just one gene related to it. Stress management strategies and vitamin D may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
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rsIDs = rs2066713,rs140701
rsStatus = rs2066713,SLC6A4,chr17,30224647,G,A,,,6,35,HET
rsStatus = rs140701,SLC6A4,chr17,30211514,C,T,,,41,0,Normal
