Urine
Neurotransmitters basic
Urine analysis for the basic levels of important neurotransmitters.
€ 165,00
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Hormones · Urine
Dopamine
Dopamine in urine; largely made in the kidneys themselves and says nothing about dopamine in the brain.
At a glance
- Measured in urine
- In 2 test panels
- Check the preparation
Explanation
Dopamine: what is measured?
In the brain, dopamine is a signaling substance for movement, motivation and reward. Dopamine in the urine, however, comes largely from the kidneys themselves: they make it from L-dopa in the blood and use it to regulate salt excretion. Dopamine from the brain does not pass the blood-brain barrier. The amount in urine therefore depends mainly on diet, the kidneys and medicines.
What can it detect?
- The effect of medicines and supplements such as levodopa, tyrosine and ADHD medication
- The effect of protein-rich and salty food
- Rarely: a tumor of the adrenal gland or of nerve ganglia that makes stress hormones; for this the hospital uses other tests
Result
What does the result mean?
Dopamine too high
A raised value is usually caused by levodopa, supplements with L-dopa (for example from velvet bean) or tyrosine, protein-rich or salty food, or concentrated urine. A high value does not mean there is more dopamine in the brain and says nothing about motivation, addiction or ADHD. Rarely: a tumor of the adrenal gland or of nerve ganglia that makes stress hormones; for this the hospital uses other tests.
Dopamine too low
A low value is usually caused by diluted urine, little protein in the diet or medicines. A low value is not a sign of a dopamine shortage in the brain, as in Parkinson's disease, and does not explain low motivation or poor concentration.
After an abnormal result
An abnormal result is usually no reason for further tests, because its meaning is not established. With symptoms of mood, stress, sleep or concentration, the GP looks at the symptoms themselves; this result does not explain them. Only with a strongly raised adrenaline or noradrenaline together with matching symptoms may the GP have metanephrines measured in blood or urine.
Reliability
How reliable is the test?
The measurements are not validated for mood, stress, burnout, ADHD or 'neurotransmitter balance'. Because the substances are largely made outside the brain, and the kidneys themselves make and process dopamine and serotonin, a result says nothing about the amount in the brain. In hospitals, only adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine are measured in urine, and preferably their breakdown products (metanephrines), for a specific question and with strict instructions for diet, medicines and collection. Outside that question, a result cannot be interpreted.
What can affect the result?
- Diet: foods including banana, pineapple, kiwi, walnut, tomato, avocado and vanilla can raise the result; protein-rich food and amino acid supplements also affect the values.
- Medicines, including antidepressants, ADHD medication, levodopa, some blood pressure medicines and nasal spray with a decongestant that narrows blood vessels, affect excretion.
- Caffeine, nicotine, exercise and stress around the time of collection mainly raise adrenaline and noradrenaline.
- A single urine sample depends heavily on how much you have drunk and on the time of day. Laboratories correct for this in different ways (for example with creatinine), and measurement methods and reference values differ between laboratories.
Preparation
- After getting up, first pass urine into the toilet as usual, then collect the second morning urine.
- You may have breakfast, but drink no more than 1 glass of water and no coffee before the second urine.
- Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol for 2 days beforehand.
- Do not exercise in the 8 hours before collecting the sample.
- Do you take medication? Then check with your doctor.
- Do not collect urine during your period.
Who it is for
Who is the test useful for?
Useful for
There is no group in whom the result has been shown to say something about mood or health. Not useful for assessing mood, stress, burnout, ADHD, sleep, appetite or 'neurotransmitter balance', or for choosing supplements, a diet or medicines based on it. With attacks of headache, palpitations and sweating together with high blood pressure, other tests in the hospital are needed, not this test.
How common is it?
No condition is diagnosed with this test, so there is no figure for how often an abnormal result means something. Abnormal values caused by diet, medicines, exercise and stress are common.
Get tested
Dopamine: test panels
Dopamine is part of these test panels. You order online and have your blood drawn at a collection point or collect the sample at home.
Evidence
Sources
This explanation is based on Dutch guidelines and independent information. It is general information, not a diagnosis. Discuss an abnormal result with your GP.
More about risks and results