Homovanillate
Homovanillate (aka Homovanillic Acid) is a dopamine metabolite.
Homovanillate and Vanilmandelate are breakdown products from neurotransmitters involved in hormone and nerve impulse transmission, called catecholamines.
What does it mean if your Homovanillate result is too high?
High levels of homovanillate may occur if there are inherited high-activity enzyme variations on the breakdown pathway or if there are higher levels of its precursor dopamine. A higher rate of dopamine breakdown may decrease dopamine levels while homovanillate levels remain high. Higher homovanillate levels have been associated with impaired neurobehavioral function in autism.
1. High levels of dopamine may result in higher levels of its metabolites norepinephrine, epinephrine, and vanilmandelate. Although the enzymes on both sides of the blood-brain barrier are the same, homovanillate primarily reflects the peripheral metabolism of dopamine in the kidney.
2. Low levels of dopamine have been associated with movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, etc.), but may also present with symptoms of depression, fatigue, poor pain tolerance, reduced sense of pleasure (hypohedonia), poor libido, cold extremities, and muscle weakness. Dopamine is broken down into norepinephrine, epinephrine, and finally vanilmandelate. If indicated, consider supporting dopamine synthesis with tyrosine, vitamin B6, iron (if deficient) and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Oxidative stress may inhibit the conversion of tyrosine into dopamine; consider antioxidant support if indicated. Antioxidant supports may include CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, curcumin, resveratrol, etc. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidant compounds. Increased levels of methylmalonate, quinolinate and pyroglutamate, with decreased levels of cis-aconitate and isocitrate, can indicate poor antioxidant status. If appropriate, dopamine breakdown may be slowed using selenium to downregulate the enzyme monoamine oxidase.
3. High levels of dopamine have been associated with the stereotyped behaviors seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit disorders (ADD), impulsivity, addictive behavior, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. If appropriate, consider supporting the breakdown of dopamine into norepinephrine and epinephrine with vitamin C, and copper. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) may be appropriate if there is evidence of problems with methylation.
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What does it mean if your Homovanillate result is too low?
Low levels of homovanillate may occur if there are nutritional enzyme inhibitions or inherited low-activity enzyme variants present in the breakdown pathway or if there are low levels of its precursor dopamine. Digestive disorders or protein-calorie malnutrition may result in low levels of precursor essential amino acids. Dopamine is either metabolized to homovanillate or converted into norepinephrine and epinephrine (vanilmandelate is the end-product of norepinephrine and epinephrine breakdown). If appropriate, consider supporting either dopamine synthesis or dopamine breakdown depending upon the patient’s presenting symptoms. Although the enzymes on both sides of the blood-brain barrier are the same, homovanillate primarily reflects the peripheral metabolism of dopamine in the kidney.
1. Low levels of dopamine have been associated with movement disorders (Parkinson’s disease, etc.), but may also present with symptoms of depression, fatigue, poor pain tolerance, reduced sense of pleasure, low libido, cold extremities, and muscle weakness. Dopamine is broken down into norepinephrine and then epinephrine. Digestive disorders or protein-calorie malnutrition may result in low levels of precursor essential amino acids. If indicated, consider supporting dopamine synthesis with tyrosine, vitamin B6, iron (if deficient) and tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). Oxidative stress may inhibit the conversion of tyrosine into dopamine; consider antioxidant support if indicated. Antioxidant supports may include CoQ10, alpha-lipoic acid, vitamins C and E, curcumin, resveratrol, etc. Fresh fruits and vegetables are rich in antioxidant compounds. Increased levels of methylmalonate, quinolinate and pyroglutamate, with decreased levels of cis-aconitate and isocitrate, can indicate poor antioxidant status.
2. High levels of dopamine have been associated with the stereotyped behaviors seen in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD), impulsivity, addictive behavior, schizophrenia, and other psychiatric disorders. L-theanine and pycnogenol may be protective if dopamine levels are elevated. If the breakdown of dopamine into homovanillate is inhibited, more dopamine may be converted into vanilmandelate and its precursors. Normally, about twice as much homovanillate is excreted, compared to vanilmandelate. Consider supporting the breakdown of dopamine into homovanillate with vitamins B2, B3, magnesium, iron (if indicated), and zinc. S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) may be appropriate if there is evidence of problems with methylation.
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