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Dopamine deficiency

Dopamine deficiency signs/symptoms:

Reduced ability to feel pleasure Flat, bored, apathetic and low enthusiasm Depressed Low drive and motivation Difficulty getting through a task even when interesting Procrastinator/little urgency Difficulty paying attention and concentrating Slowed thinking and/or slow to learn new ideas Crave uppers (e.g. caffeine/nicotine/diet soft drinks) Use these to improve energy/motivation/mood Prone to addictions (e.g. alcohol)/addictive personality Shy/introvert Low libido or impotence Mentally fatigued easily and physically fatigued easily Sleep too much and trouble getting out of bed Put on weight easily Family history of alcoholism/ADD/ADHD

Reduced ability to feel pleasure
Flat, bored, apathetic and low enthusiasm
Depressed
Low drive and motivation
Difficulty getting through a task even when interesting
Procrastinator/little urgency
Difficulty paying attention and concentrating
Slowed thinking and/or slow to learn new ideas
Crave uppers (e.g. caffeine/nicotine/diet soft drinks)

Use these to improve energy/motivation/mood

Prone to addictions (e.g. alcohol)/addictive personality
Shy/introvert
Low libido or impotence
Mentally fatigued easily and physically fatigued easily
Sleep too much and trouble getting out of bed
Put on weight easily
Family history of alcoholism/ADD/ADHD

Dopamine levels may be low due to a combination of genetic and acquired reasons. Dopamine can be raised effectively using either nutrient based therapies or medications. Dopamine is synthesized form the amino acid tyrosine.

Factors which reduce dopamine levels:

Chronic stress
Inadequate sleep
Hypothyroidism
Lead, arsenic and cadmium exposure
Under-methylation
Tyrosine (precursor) deficiency
Magnesium, iron, zinc & vitamins B3/B6/C/D deficiency
Excess copper levels
Genetic dopamine receptor abnormalities
Chronic opioid, alcohol & marijuana use
Adrenal insufficiency
Glutathione deficiency
Parkinson's Disease
Influenza
Estrogen deficiency
Human growth hormone deficiency

References:

The Edge Effect: Achieve Total Health and Longevity with the Balanced Brain Advantage by Eric R. Braverman, M.D., 2004

The Mood Cure: The 4-Step Program to Rebalance Your Emotional Chemistry and Rediscover Your Natural Sense of Well-Being by Julia Ross, M.A., 2002

Blake Graham, BSc (Honours), AACNEM
Clinical Nutritionist
Perth, Western Australia
Phone/Email: See Contact page
*Non-Perth residents may enquire about phone consultations.