5-OH-indoleacetic Acid (5-HIAA) is a downstream metabolite of serotonin, which is formed from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Most blood serotonin and urinary 5-HIAA comes from serotonin formation outside of the CNS, primarily the liver and enterochromaffin cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Serotonin is further metabolized by monoamine oxidase to become 5-HIAA.
References:
- Corcuff J-B, Chardon L, El Hajji Ridah I, Brossaud J. Urinary sampling for 5HIAA and metanephrines determination: revisiting the recommendations. Endocr Connect. 2017;6(6):R87-R98.
- Motomura Y, Ghia JE, Wang H, et al. Enterochromaffin cell and 5-hydroxytryptamine responses to the same infectious agent differ in Th1 and Th2 dominant environments. Gut. 2008;57(4):475-481.
- Hasler WL. Serotonin and the GI tract. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2009;11(5):383-391.
- Sikander A, Rana SV, Prasad KK. Role of serotonin in gastrointestinal motility and irritable bowel syndrome. Clinica Chimica Acta. 2009;403(1-2):47-55.
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- Davidson FD. Paracetamol-associated interference in an HPLCECD assay for urinary free metadrenalines and catecholamines. Ann Clin Biochem. 2004;41(Pt 4):316-320.
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Decreased 5-HIAA levels can reflect low tryptophan intake, or malabsorption/maldigestion of tryptophan. Medications, like MAO inhibitors, decrease serotonin turnover and decrease 5-HIAA. Low levels of urinary 5-HIAA have been observed in cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, IBS patients, and those with mood disorders and migraines.
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Elevations, as well as low levels of urinary 5-HIAA, can reflect underlying intestinal microbial balance. Serotonin produced by intestinal enterochromaffin cells is necessary for GI motility. Because of this, antidepressants such as tricyclics and serotonin selective reuptake inhibitors have been used in treating IBS. Enterochromaffin cells and their serotonin signaling are influenced by overall inflammatory responses to bacteria in the GI tract. Diets rich in tryptophan and serotonin have been shown to increase urinary 5-HIAA. Bananas, plantains, kiwi, pineapple, nuts, and tomatoes, among other foods, can cause elevations of this urinary metabolite.
The excretion of 5-HIAA seems to vary among individuals who supplement with 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP). Carcinoid tumors are well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors derived from the enterochromaffin cells in the GI tract and lung. These tumors secrete vasoactive peptides, especially serotonin which causes flushing and diarrhea. Urinary 5-HIAA levels are elevated in patients with carcinoid syndromes. It should be noted that certain medications may cause false abnormalities in urinary 5-HIAA, and/ or interfere with electrochemical detection on chromatography. These include guaifenesin, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Many medications can alter serotonin levels and therefore impact urinary 5-HIAA levels. Due diligence is recommended to investigate medications as a possible etiology of abnormal levels. Abnormalities, both high and low, in urinary 5-HIAA can be caused by methylation defects, as well as vitamin and mineral nutrient cofactor deficiencies
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% Omega-3s, % Omega-6s, % Omega-9s, % Saturated Fats, 1-Methylhistidine, 3-Hydroxyisovaleric Acid, 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid, 3-Methyl-4-OH-phenylglycol, 3-Methylhistidine, 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, 5-OH-indoleacetic Acid, 8-OHdG (urine), a-Amino-N-butyric Acid, a-Aminoadipic Acid, a-Hydroxybutyric Acid, a-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid (from MTBE), a-Keto-b-Methylvaleric Acid, a-Ketoadipic Acid, a-Ketoglutaric Acid, a-Ketoisocaproic Acid, a-Ketoisovaleric Acid, a-Ketophenylacetic Acid (from Styrene), a-Linolenic (ALA) 18:3 n3, AA / EPA (20:4 n6 / 20:5 n3), Adipic Acid, Alanine, Aluminum, Anserine (dipeptide), Antimony, Arachidic C20:0, Arachidonic (AA) 20:4 n6, Arginine, Arsenic, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, b-Alanine, b-Aminoisobutyric Acid, b-OH-b-Methylglutaric Acid, b-OH-Butyric Acid, Barium, Behenic C22:0, Benzoic Acid, Bismuth, Cadmium, Calcium, Carnosine (dipeptide), Cesium, Chromium, cis-Aconitic Acid, Citramalic Acid, Citric Acid, Citrulline, Cobalt, Copper, Creatinine, Creatinine Concentration (Amino Acids FMV), Cystathionine, Cysteine, Cystine, D-Arabinitol, Dihomo-g-linolenic (DGLA) 20:3 n6, Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA), Docosahexaenoic (DHA) 22:6 n3, Docosapentaenoic (DPA) 22:5 n3, Docosatetraenoic (DTA) 22:4 n6, Eicosadienoic 20:2 n6, Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) 20:5 n3, Elaidic 18:1 n9t, Ethanolamine, Formiminoglutamic Acid (FIGlu), g-Aminobutyric Acid, g-Linolenic (GLA) 18:3 n6, Gadolinium, Gallium, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Glutaric Acid, Glyceric Acid, Glycine, Glycolic Acid, Hippuric Acid, Histidine, Homovanillic Acid, Indoleacetic Acid, Iron, Isocitric Acid, Isoleucine, Isovalerylglycine, Kynurenic / Quinolinic Ratio, Kynurenic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lead, Leucine, Lignoceric C24:0, Linoleic (LA) 18:2 n6, Linoleic / DGLA (18:2 n6 / 20:3 n6), Lipid Peroxides (urine), Lithium, Lysine, Magnesium, Malic Acid, Manganese, Margaric C17:0, Mercury, Methionine, Methylmalonic Acid, Molybdenum, Nervonic 24:1 n9, Nickel, Niobium, Oleic 18:1 n9, Omega-3 Index, Omega-6s /Omega-3s, Ornithine, Orotic Acid, Oxalic Acid, Palmitic C16:0, Palmitoleic 16:1 n7, Pentadecanoic C15:0, Phenylacetic Acid, Phenylalanine, Phosphoethanolamine, Phosphoserine, Platinum, Potassium, Proline, Pyroglutamic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Quinolinic Acid, Rubidium, Sarcosine, Selenium, Serine, Stearic C18:0, Strontium, Suberic Acid, Succinic Acid, Sulfur, Tartaric Acid, Taurine, Thallium, Thorium, Threonine, Tin, Tricosanoic C23:0, Tryptophan, Tungsten, Tyrosine, Uranium, Urea, Urine Creatinine, Vaccenic 18:1 n7, Valine, Vanadium, Vanilmandelic Acid, Xanthurenic Acid, Zinc
