COVID-19 infections are responsible for an upswing in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but now the underlying mechanisms are emerging from research, offering a deeper understanding of this virus-induced mental health disorder.
A metabolic process ongoing in the gut is interrupted when angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), the receptor site for SARS-CoV-2, is occupied by the virus. Tryptophan transporter is typically co-expressed with ACE-2, but when the virus is taking over ACE-2, tryptophan is not absorbed.
This is problematic because tryptophan, an essential amino acid that must be taken in by the diet, plays a vital role in making serotonin and melatonin. Tryptophan—found in foods like bananas, oats, tuna, chicken, cheese, and turkey—is the sole precursor for serotonin, a neurotransmitter involved in mood, behavior, and cognition. About 30 percent of those with acute COVID infections also have PTSD….