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Title: | A single administration of ‘microbial’ D-alanine to healthy volunteers augments reaction to negative emotions: a comparison with D-serine |
Authors: | Capitao, Liliana Harmer, Catherine J |
Keywords: | Cognition Emotions |
Issue Date: | Mar-2020 |
Citation: | Liliana P. Capitão, Jessica Forsyth, Mia A Thomaidou, Mark D. Condon, Catherine J. Harmer, Philip W.J. Burnet. A single administration of ‘microbial’ D-alanine to healthy volunteers augments reaction to negative emotions: a comparison with D-serine. Journal of Psychopharmacology 13 March 2020 |
Abstract: | Background Activation of the glutamate N-methyl-D-Aspartate receptor (NMDAR) with its co-agonist D-serine has been shown to improve subjective mood in healthy volunteers. D-alanine is another potent NMDAR co-agonist which arises from the natural breakdown of host gut microbes, and is predominantly sequestered in the pituitary. This may suggest that D-alanine influences the neuroendocrine stress response which may then impact on emotion. Aims The current study explored the effects of D-serine and D-alanine on emotional processing, cognition and the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in healthy volunteers. Methods In a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised study, participants (N=63) received a single oral dose of either D-serine, D-alanine (60mg/kg) or placebo and then performed the Emotional Test Battery (ETB) and N-back task (2hrs post-administration) and provided saliva samples at fixed intervals. Results/Outcomes Subjects administered with D-alanine were faster at identifying facial expressions of fear, surprise and anger, and at categorising negative self-referential words. Participants on D-alanine also showed a trend to recall more words than placebo in a memory task. D-serine did not have any meaningful effects in any of the tasks. Neither amino acid had a significant effect on salivary cortisol or working memory. Conclusions/Interpretations This study is the first to suggest that D-alanine can modulate emotional cognitive processing after a single dose. The lack of findings for D-serine nevertheless contrasts a previous study, emphasising a need for further investigation to clarify discrepancies. A better understanding of the physiological actions of D-amino acids would be beneficial in evaluating their therapeutic potential. |
URI: | https://oxfordhealth-nhs.archive.knowledgearc.net/handle/123456789/501 |
ISSN: | 14617285 |
Appears in Collections: | Depressive Disorders |
Files in This Item:
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Capitao_et_al_2020_a_single_administration_of_microbial_d_alanine.pdf | PrePrint | 417.13 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
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