How does it work?
Our entire body is permeated by blood vessels, through which our organs and tissues are supplied with vital nutrients and oxygen – including the central nervous system (CNS), which consists of the brain and spinal cord. Here, the blood-brain barrier acts as a filter, allowing only certain molecules to enter and exit the CNS.
How is it structured?
On the inner surface of the capillary walls are the vascular wall cells (endothelial cells), which are tightly bound together by narrow, belt-like junctions. Together with the basement membrane and the astrocytes, which surround the vessels from the CNS side, they form the blood-brain barrier.
What is it good for?
The blood-brain barrier selectively determines which molecules, cells, or ions are transported from the blood into the central nervous system (CNS) and which waste products are expelled. This filtering function is intended to protect our brain from toxic substances, which are then prevented from passing through. This selection process often works, but it also has some weaknesses: alcohol and nicotine, for example, pass through the barrier without difficulty.
Who is allowed in, who has to stay outside.
As a general rule, substances that are small and lipophilic (i.e., fat-loving) are primarily transported into the brain, while large molecules that are hydrophilic (i.e., water-loving) are less likely to pass through. However, there are always exceptions to this rule.
How does this affect my daily life?
Have you ever wondered how an active ingredient knows where to work? For example, how does a medication for menstruation know to work in the lower abdomen and not in the brain? The answer actually lies in the blood-brain barrier. Through a process of non-selection, this barrier ensures that the active ingredient Buscopan doesn't exert its effects in the brain, potentially causing drowsiness or sleepiness, but instead works specifically in the lower abdomen.
The example of serotonin/5-HTP
Conversely, some substances that are needed in the brain don't reach it directly. Serotonin is a fascinating example. Also known as the "happiness hormone," it's one of the most important amines, acting as a neurotransmitter to transmit information between nerve cells. Its ability to influence our emotions and psyche is what gives it its nickname. One would think that such a necessary and natural hormone should easily reach the brain, but this isn't the case. To circumvent the barrier, the body uses two precursors of serotonin: tryptophan, which occurs naturally in foods such as the African black bean, bananas, and chocolate, and 5-HTP. Tryptophan is converted by the body into the intermediate 5-HTP and then further into serotonin. While serotonin, as mentioned, cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, the precursors tryptophan and 5-HTP can both easily cross it and then be converted into serotonin in the brain. 5-HTP has therefore been actively used for over 30 years as a therapeutic agent against depression, anxiety, panic, sleep disorders, eating disorders, PMS or chronic headaches.
We at mybacs have also addressed this topic and, in doing so, developed our add-on. “Good Mood” Developed. High-quality 5-HTP, ashwagandha, saffron extract and other valuable vitamins provide a real mood boost and support your overall well-being.
