Link
between exercise, mood and phenylethylamine
levels
Regular
exercise is known to boost mood and may avoid
the occurence of depression. It is reported that
levels of phenylethylamine in the body are
elevated by aerobic activity, and that this may
explain this relationship. A group of
investigators have noticed that the mean urine
concentration of phenylethylamine in 20 healthy
young men increased by 77% after they ran for 30
minutes on a treadmill. The subjects stopped
activity for a day then they repeated the same
exercise the next day. Urine samples were
collected during the inactive and active days
and the levels were compared. Urine phenylacetic
acid, which reflects phenylethylamine levels,
was higher in 18 of the 20 men, the increase
being from 14% to 572%. Since chemically
phenylethylamine resembles amphetamines in some
ways, the researchers have suggested that
phenylethylamine may be involved in the
processus of the runners' boosting. Moreover a
study has shown that patients suffering from
depression and bipolar disorder had urine levels
of phenylacetic acid lower than normal. Taken
together these findings suggest that it should
be worth evaluating the effect of exercise on
the phenylethylamine levels in patients
diagnosed with depressive disorders. Br
J Sport Med 35:342-343, 2001