Homovanillic acid (HVA), or 3-methoxy-4- hydroxyphenylacetic acid, is a metabolite of dopamine. Although dopamine is an important brain neurotransmitter, a substantial amount of dopamine is produced in the GI tract.
In neurotransmitter production, dopamine is formed from phenylalanine and tyrosine using several enzymes which require nutrient cofactors such as iron, tetrahydrobiopterin, and pyridoxal phosphate.
Dopamine then becomes norepinephrine using the enzyme dopamine beta-hydroxylase, which requires copper and ascorbic acid for optimal activity.
Dopamine can be metabolized to homovanillic acid using both monoamine oxidase (MAO) and catechol-Omethyltransferase (COMT).
MAO requires a vitamin B2 (FAD) cofactor, while the COMT enzyme requires SAM, magnesium, and vitamin B6.
References:
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Homovanillic Acid
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