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Research progress on the role of functional foods targeting the serotonin pathway in promoting sleep health
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Li-Jie WANG1, Jia-Wei WAN1, *, Jiao LIU1, *, Arshad RUBAB1, Ting-Yang AI1, Hong-Zao HE2
Journal of Food Safety & Quality | 2026, 17(4) : 252 - 263
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Journal of Food Safety & Quality | 2026, 17(4): 252-263
• Food Analysis and Detection •
Research progress on the role of functional foods targeting the serotonin pathway in promoting sleep health
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Li-Jie WANG1, Jia-Wei WAN1, *, Jiao LIU1, *, Arshad RUBAB1, Ting-Yang AI1, Hong-Zao HE2
Affiliations
  • 1.College of Life Sciences, South-central Minzu University, Wuhan 430070, China
  • 2.Guizhou Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology, Guyang 550000, China
doi: 10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.20251010002
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The incidence of sleep disorders is escalating, driving significant research into safe and effective interventions. Serotonin/5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) plays a central role in sleep-wake regulation; its synthesis, degradation, and receptor signaling are intricately linked to circadian rhythms. This paper reviewed research advances in functional foods that promoted sleep health via the serotonin pathway, centering the discussion on the “5-HT tension-receptor-circadian rhythm” framework. Evidence indicated that 5-HT exerted a U-shaped window effect on sleep: Low levels mought cause difficulty initiating sleep and heightened alertness, whereas excessively high levels could result in daytime sleepiness and central nervous system fatigue. Maintaining a moderate 5-HT tension that synchronized the activity of the 5-HT1A, 5-HT2A and 5-HT7 receptors and optimized the continuity and composition of non-rapid eye movement sleep/rapid eye movement sleep (NREM/REM). Building upon this foundation, the intervention pathways for functional foods primarily encompass 3 aspects: (1) Supporting synthesis through supplementation with tryptophan and its metabolites or by regulating tryptophan hydroxylase/monoamine oxidase(TPH/MAO) activity; (2) achieving receptor bias through multi-target, mild modulation of natural compounds; (3)improving the gut microbiota via probiotics, prebiotics and their metabolites, thereby upregulating the TPH1/5-HT pathway. Furthermore, functional foods demonstrate potential for synergistic improvements in sleep quality when combined with physical interventions (e.g., light therapy, neuromodulation or exercise) and pharmacological treatments. Future research should strengthen areas such as clinical trial design, standardization of functional ingredients, objective and subjective endpoints evaluation, and safety monitoring to provide evidence-based support for the development of functional foods targeting the serotonin pathway.

serotonin  /  5-hydroxytryptamin  /  functional foods  /  tryptophan  /  gut-brain axis  /  receptor bias  /  timing of intake
王俪洁, 万佳玮, 刘娇, Arshad RUBAB, 艾廷阳, 贺红早. 基于血清素通路的功能食品睡眠健康促进作用研究进展. 食品安全质量检测学报, 2026 , 17 (4) : 252 -263 . DOI: 10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.20251010002
Li-Jie WANG, Jia-Wei WAN, Jiao LIU, Arshad RUBAB, Ting-Yang AI, Hong-Zao HE. Research progress on the role of functional foods targeting the serotonin pathway in promoting sleep health[J]. Journal of Food Safety & Quality, 2026 , 17 (4) : 252 -263 . DOI: 10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.20251010002
Year 2026 volume 17 Issue 4
9
2
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doi: 10.19812/j.cnki.jfsq11-5956/ts.20251010002
  • Receive Date:2025-10-10
  • Online Date:2026-11-05
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  • Received:2025-10-10
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    1.College of Life Sciences, South-central Minzu University, Wuhan 430070, China
    2.Guizhou Academy of Sciences Institute of Biology, Guyang 550000, China
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表12种不同金属材料的力学参数
科
Family
属数
Number of
genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of
total species (%)
属
Genus
种数
Number of
species
占总种数比例
Percentage of total
species (%)
鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae 2 11 5.26 鹅膏菌属 Amanita 10 4.78
小菇科 Mycenaceae 2 12 5.74 丝盖伞属 Inocybe 5 2.39
多孔菌科 Polyporaceae 8 14 6.70 蜡蘑属 Laccaria 5 2.39
红菇科 Russulaceae 3 23 11.00 小皮伞属 Marasmius 6 2.87
小菇属 Mycena 11 5.26
光柄菇属 Pluteus 5 2.39
红菇属 Russula 17 8.13
栓菌属 Trametes 5 2.39
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