Do Neurotransmitters Matter to Children’s Mental Health?

Do Neurotransmitters Matter to Children’s Mental Health?

The short answer is yes, but the nuanced answer is that they are not the end of the story.

The idea that depression, anxiety, or ADHD in kids is a chemical imbalance is a bit outdated, but that does not mean brain chemistry doesn’t matter.

Beginning in the early 2000s or so, research started highlighting things like inflammation, gut health, and nutrient imbalances as contributors to mood instability. But even in light of that insight, neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine may still play a central role. And this is good news for parents whose kids struggle with anxiety, depression, and anger, because understanding neurotransmitters gives us a powerful and clear place to intervene using targeted supplemental amino acids you can purchase over the counter.

In this article, we’ll go over:

• What neurotransmitters are and why they matter
• 5 Reasons Some Kids May Need Neurotransmitter Support
• Can amino acids replace medication

At the end, I’ve linked to further reading as well as our Amino Acid (with kids) Quickstart course that helps parents safely use amino acids with their kids.

What Are Neurotransmitters and Why Do They Matter in Kids' Mental Health?

Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are chemicals that communicate feelings within the nervous system.

They help regulate things like:

• Mood
• Focus and attention
• Sleep
• Motivation
• Stress response

Here are some simplified examples of how neurotransmitters work:

• Serotonin is a calming chemical that supports mood and sleep.
• Dopamine is an activating chemical that supports focus, drive, and motivation.
• Glutamate is an activating chemical that supports focus and alertness
• GABA is a calming chemical that supports calm and relaxation
• Adrenaline and Noradrenaline are activating chemicals that drive energy and stress response.

Our neurotransmitters work together, strategically balancing each other out in response to stimuli. The more stimuli we're exposed to, the more we need to create and use neurotransmitters.

And here’s the hopeful part: Neurotransmitters are created in the body using amino acids as the building blocks. We can support children’s mental health and neurochemistry by improving their amino acid supply.

5 Reasons Some Kids May Need Neurotransmitter Support

But why might some kids need more neurotransmitter support than others?

The key to understanding this is the notion that stress has less to do with the stressful event itself and more to do with how that event is managed by the body.

For example, one child might experience teasing on the schoolbus and be able to brush it off, while another might feel deeply wounded and fall into a depression. Why is that?

It's (partly) because of how well the body is equipped to manage its response to the stressor. Part of that resource "pack" we have to respond to stress is neurotransmitters.

Here are 5 reasons why some children need more amino acid and neurotransmitter support.

1. Not Enough Protein Intake

Neurotransmitters are made from amino acids, which we get from protein.

Proteins are simply long chains of amino acids strung together. The process of digestion breaks the chains and liberates the amino acids so the body can use them to build other things - like neurotransmitters.

Simply put, low protein = insufficient raw materials for brain chemistry.

Kids with emotional dysregulation or ADHD symptoms often benefit from higher protein intake than expected. This equips them with more raw materials to meet their stress load.

2. Vitamin and Mineral Imbalances

The body can not convert Amino Acids into neurotransmitters without key nutritional cofactors.

Some of the cofactors involved are:

• Zinc
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin C
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Iron
• Vitamin D

If these are low, the conversion process slows down, and a child may end up with insufficient neurotransmitters to match their stress load. Making sure stressed kids eat a nutrient-dense diet full of vitamin- and mineral-cofactors for neurotransmitters is key.

3. Poor Protein Digestion

A child may eat enough protein but fail to break it down properly, leaving them with insufficient building blocks for neurotransmitters.

Remember, the process of digestion breaks apart protein chains into single amino acids. If that doesn't happen well, the building blocks for neurotransmitters just aren't there, leaving a child poorly resourced for managing stressful events.

Low stomach acid, constipation, insufficient gut bacteria and fibre, eating too fast, and gut inflammation can interfere with protein digestion.

4. Gut Imbalance or Inflammation

Gut bacteria and internally generated toxins can disrupt neurotransmitter pathways, derailing neurotransmitters before the nervous system can use them. Here are some examples:

• Stress and infection can divert tryptophan away from serotonin production.
• Clostridia species in the gut can interfere with dopamine.
• Certain gut bacteria can degrade GABA, making it unusable.

In these cases, supplemental amino acids can help stabilize mood while the root issue is addressed.

5. Genetic Variants Increase Need

Some children have genetic differences that affect neurotransmitter transport, detox pathways, and the regulation of key nutrients. These children may have a higher baseline need for amino acid support, especially during stressful seasons.

Can Amino Acids Replace Medication?

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But amino acids can almost always be a strong adjunct.

In my experience, the best times to try amino acids to support neurotransmitter production are:

• when you are in the initial stages of concern about your child's excessive worry, separation anxiety, school refusal, depression, intattention or anger
• when your child is not sleeping or eating well
• when your child is not in crisis but is feeling unwell
• you are considering starting a medication, but what to exhaust all options first

The bottom line is that while neurotransmitters may not be the whole story of your child's mental health, using amino acids to support them absolutely can be a part of your plan.

I call Amino Acids “Nature’s Pressure Valve”. I see them as a short-term solution to stabilize mood, allow everyone in the family to breathe a little, shift a child’s trajectory, and help ease pressure while you address the underlying problems. 

The underlying problems may include protein intake, micronutrient levels, digestion and gut health, stress load and coping skills, and other sources of inflammation like infection. 

Regardless of contributors, when amino acids help, it means your child’s stress load is outweighing their stress capacity. Amino acids can help stabilize things while you reduce stress load and improve capacity. Sometimes families use them temporarily, sometimes they need them seasonally, sometimes they are part of a longer-term strategy. That will depend on your child's unique situation and biology.

To learn more about how to choose amino acids and use them safely with your child, please take a look at our Amino Acids (with kids!) Quickstart program.

Further articles:

Top Nutrients That Help Anxiety in Kids

Amino Acids: Alleviating Stress & Enhancing Calm In Kids

Neurotransmitter Testing In Kids, Yeay or Nay? 

Why I Recommend Genetic Testing for Kids with Anxiety, Mood Swings, or ADHD